US airstrikes in Somalia kill several Islamic State members
The US Africa Command (Africom) said on Saturday it conducted an airstrike in the Puntland region of Somalia, killing several members of the Islamic State (IS). The operation was carried out in coordination with the Somali government and targeted multiple ISIS-Somalia positions.
The airstrike occurred southeast of Bosasso, a key port city in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia. While the number of casualties was not specified, Africom said initial assessments showed multiple IS operatives were killed, and no civilians were harmed.
This strike is part of a more extensive counter-terrorism operation in Somalia. Two days earlier, the US military had conducted a similar attack, and in February, Puntland authorities reported US strikes had eliminated key IS figures.
Although IS has a presence in Somalia, it remains smaller than Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group that controls large parts of the country. However, IS has been gaining influence in Puntland, which has become a key base for its operations in the region.
