On Thursday, February 20 2025, airstrikes were declared by US Africa Command (AFRICOM) forces in collaboration with the Somali National Army, reportedly against al-Shabaab forces near Bulo Burte district in the Hiraan region of Hirshabelle state. No civilians or militants were officially reported as injured or killed in the strikes.

The strikes were officially confirmed by both AFRICOM and the Somali federal government. AFRICOM stated that the strikes were carried out “at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia”, and claimed that the strikes were “collective self defense” and that according to their initial assessment, “no civilians were injured or killed” without any initial mention of militant casualties. New America news quoted AFRICOM as having confirmed three strikes in the incident, and that in response to their query “AFRICOM put its current assessment of the number of enemies killed in these strikes at zero.”

According to a press statement put out by the Somali Ministry of Information, the strikes disrupted “the militia’s plans to launch a surprise attack”, and that the federal government of Somalia was “intensifying its campaign” against militant groups in the region. The official statements were re-published by multiple local news and social media sources.

Modern Ghana News and Hiiraan Online News reported that the strikes “thwart(ed) an al-Shabaab attack on the district”, and that according to Somali government officials the strikes were a part of “ongoing efforts to degrade al Shabbab’s operational capabilities.” They also quoted a Somali government spokesperson as having praised the partnership and military collaboration between the Somali National forces and United States AFRICOM, among other international allies. They noted that the Somali government “did not disclose the number of Al-Shabaab militants killed in the airstrike.”

Somali Guardian posted on Twitter/X saying the airstrikes were carried out while “fierce clashes (between) the insurgents and #Somalia’s security forces were ongoing on the opposite bank of the Shabelle River in Middle Shabelle region.”