The United States has resumed airstrikes in Somalia after a brief hiatus, conducting a series of operations against Al-Shabaab militants in cooperation with the Somalia government, according to U.S. military officials.
According to statements from the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), U.S. forces carried out airstrikes over five separate days last week. These strikes targeted areas in southern Somalia, particularly around the port city of Kismayo, where the Islamist group has maintained strongholds for years.
Resumption of Operations After Pause
The resumption of strikes ended a one-month period during which there were no reports of airstrikes in the region. This occurred despite 2026 being one of the most intense years for AFRICOM in Somalia in terms of the number and scale of operations against Al-Shabaab.
AFRICOM noted that the temporary pause did not indicate a halt in military activity. In comments to Stars and Stripes, the command emphasized that its strikes are based on verified intelligence and aimed at achieving specific operational objectives, maximizing opportunities to support counterterrorism efforts.
Support for Counterinsurgency Campaign
The command added that the air campaign aims to enable Somali forces to sustain ongoing military operations against Al-Shabaab, which has been conducting insurgent activities against the federal government for over a decade.
Washington has increased support for Somalia’s counterinsurgency campaign in recent years, with airstrikes and intelligence assistance being key components of efforts to weaken the group affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
Source: AllAfrica