The United States Army has carried out air attacks against Islamic State agents in Somalia, the first attacks in the African nation during the second mandate of President Donald Trump.
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegesh, said on Saturday that the strikes of the United States Africa command were led by Trump and coordinated with the Somalia government.
An initial evaluation of the Pentagon indicated that they were killed “multiple” operational. The Pentagon said it evaluated that no civilian was harmed in the strikes.
Neither the Associated Press nor the Reuters news agency could independently verify those statements.
Trump, in a publication on social networks, said an IS planner and recruits were attacked in the operation.
“The strikes destroyed the caves in which they live and killed many terrorists without, in any way, damage civilians. Our army has attacked this ISIS attack planner for years, but Biden and his cronies would not act quickly enough to do the job. I did! “Trump said.” The message to ISIS and all the others that would attack Americans is that “we will find you and kill you!”
Trump did not identify the IS planner or said if that person was killed in the strike. White House officials did not respond immediately to comments requests.
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The anti -terrorism strategy of the Pentagon in Africa has been tensioned as two key partners, Chad and NigerHe expelled the US forces last year and took over the key bases that the US army had used to train and carry out missions against terrorist groups throughout The SahelThe vast arid extension south of the Sahara desert.
American military officers have warned that cells have received a growing leadership direction of the group that moved to northern Somalia.
That has included how to kidnap westernly rescue, how to learn better military tactics, how to hide from drones and how to build their own small quadcopters.
The affiliate in Somalia emerged in 2015 as a separatist faction of Al-Shabab, the Al Qaida Eastern Africa link, and is more active in Puntlandia, particularly in the Mountains of Galgala, where it has established hiding and training fields and is directed By abdulkadir mumin.
While its influence is relatively limited compared to Al-Shababaab, it is involved in Somalia in attacks in Southern and Central Somalia. The group finances its activities through extortion, smuggling and illicit taxes, particularly in some coastal areas where you have tried to control local businesses.
Despite facing the anti-terrorism pressure of the Somali security forces, American air attacks and the rivalries of Al-Shabab, continues to operate in remote and urban areas, seeking to expand its influence through recruitment and propaganda.
It is estimated that the number of militants in the country in the hundreds, mostly dispersed in the mountains of Cal Misskaat in the Bari region of Puntlandia, according to the International Crisis Group.
Saturday's operation followed military military attacks on January 30 in northwestern Syria, killing a senior operation in Hurras Al-Din, an affiliate from Al-Qaeda, said the central command of the United States.
Faruk reported from Mogadiscio, Somalia.
This story was published on February 1, 2025.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press