US Confirms Two Airstrikes Targeting ISIS-Somalia Militants in Puntland Mountains

 

October 29, 2025 | Garowe, Somalia

The United States military has confirmed conducting two precision airstrikes targeting ISIS-Somalia militants in the rugged Al Miskaad mountain range of Puntland’s Bari region — a known militant hideout in northeastern Somalia.

According to a statement by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the airstrikes took place on October 24 and 26, roughly 85 kilometres southeast of Bosaso, Puntland’s commercial hub along the Gulf of Aden. AFRICOM said the strikes were aimed at degrading ISIS-Somalia’s operational capacity and safeguarding U.S. and Somali interests in the region.

“AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take decisive action to weaken ISIS-Somalia’s ability to threaten regional and global security,” the statement read.

No specific casualty figures were released due to operational security, though AFRICOM reaffirmed its commitment to minimizing civilian harm.

Regional officials in Puntland confirmed the air operations, noting that local security forces have stepped up coordination with U.S. counterparts to dismantle ISIS cells entrenched in the Al Miskaad mountains — a remote and difficult terrain long used by militants for training and regrouping.

ISIS-Somalia emerged in 2015, when a faction of al-Shabaab pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Though smaller in number, the group has remained active across the Golis mountain range, engaging in ambushes and extortion targeting local communities.

Puntland authorities recently reported significant progress against ISIS-Somalia, saying the group has been “severely weakened”, though sporadic clashes continue in the Al Miskaad area.

The latest strikes signal Washington’s renewed focus on counterterrorism operations in Puntland, complementing its broader campaign in central and southern Somalia against al-Shabaab. The joint efforts between U.S. and Somali forces underscore growing regional cooperation in combating extremist networks.

According to data from Antiwar.com, these two airstrikes bring the total number of U.S. strikes in Somalia this year to 86, surpassing previous records. The Trump administration set the prior record in 2019 with 63 strikes, while President Biden authorized 51 during his term.

The operations highlight an ongoing U.S. commitment to supporting Somalia’s stability and regional security, particularly in areas still vulnerable to extremist influence.