U.S. airstrikes in Somalia just shattered every record with 109 strikes in 2025, more than any year since the war on terror began. Fresh bombs rained on ISIS caves in Puntland and al-Shabaab hideouts in Jubaland, turning quiet mountains and forests into battle zones. U.S. airstrikes in Somalia aren’t random anymore; they’re a daily hammer trying to crush two terror groups before they grow bigger teeth.
The Real Surge of U.S. Airstrikes in Somalia
From just 10 strikes in all of 2024 to 109 in eleven months, the jump is wild. February started it with a massive hit on ISIS in Puntland’s Cal Miskaad mountains, killing 46 in one go. By June the count hit 38, by November 109. Puntland got the heaviest load, 59 strikes on ISIS-Somalia alone. Jubaland felt it too with raids on al-Shabaab commanders. U.S. airstrikes went from occasional to almost weekly, sometimes daily.
What Changed Under the New Rules
Trump’s team came in January and flipped the switch. They called ISIS-Somalia a direct threat to the American homeland, not just Somalia’s problem. AFRICOM got orders: hit hard, hit fast. Reapers, helicopters, even special forces on the ground. One December raid saw over 100 U.S. troops drop into Baallade Valley at dawn, fighting cave to cave for four hours. U.S. airstrikes in Somalia now work hand-in-hand with Puntland’s Operation Hilaac and Jubaland’s Danab units.
The Two Enemies Getting Hammered
ISIS-Somalia under Abdulkadir Mumin built a safe haven in the Golis mountains, pulling in foreign fighters and planning attacks far beyond Africa. Al-Shabaab still rules roads in the south, taxing, bombing, and hiding among civilians. U.S. airstrikes in Somalia target both: ISIS for global reach, al-Shabaab for local terror. One strike near Kismayo took out a senior commander, Farah-Jilib, in November.
Cheers and Fears on the Ground
In Bossaso people clap when a strike wipes out an ISIS tax collector. Puntland officials call it “game-changing.” But in villages under the flight path, families flinch at every drone buzz. Airwars says at least 92 civilians may have died from U.S. strikes since 2007. One September bomb killed a respected clan elder, sparking angry protests. U.S. airstrikes in Somalia save lives and take them, sometimes in the same week.
The Bigger Question Nobody Answers
109 strikes mean 109 nights of fire in the sky. They hurt the terrorists, no doubt. ISIS lost ground, al-Shabaab lost leaders. But bombs don’t hold villages. Somali forces still struggle to move in after the smoke clears. Critics say every dead civilian plants a new fighter. Supporters say it buys time for Somalia to get stronger. U.S. airstrikes in Somalia are loud, expensive, and endless until someone builds peace that sticks.
Also Read: Brutal Muslim Brotherhood Takedown: America Finally Drops the Hammer on a Global Threat
109 bombs and counting. The sky over Somalia is busy, but the ground still waits for quiet.
