In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab on Dec. 14, 2025. The airstrike occurred approximately 50 km northeast of Kismayo, Somalia. AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade al-Shabaab’s ability to threaten the U.S. Homeland, our forces, and our citizens abroad. Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security.

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The United States military said on Monday it carried out an airstrike against the Islamist group Al-Shabaab in coordination with the Somali government, targeting militants about 50 kilometres (30 miles) northeast of Kismayo, the interim capital of Somalia’s Jubaland state. In a statement, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strike was conducted on December 14 as part of ongoing joint operations with the Somali National Army aimed at degrading the group’s operational capabilities. “The operation is part of continued efforts with our Somali partners to degrade Al-Shabaab’s ability to threaten the United States, its personnel, and civilians,” AFRICOM said, adding that specific details of the strike were being withheld for operational security reasons. The targeted area lies in Lower Juba, a region where Al-Shabaab maintains a strong presence despite sustained military pressure from Somali forces backed by international partners. Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked group, has waged a deadly insurgency in Somalia for more than a decade and frequently carries out attacks targeting government officials, security forces and civilians. The United States has intensified air operations in recent years in support of Somalia’s campaign against the militants.

Somali military officials said Tuesday nearly 60 al-Shabab fighters, including senior commanders, were killed during airstrikes and ground operations near Kismayo.The strikes were carried out in Kabsuuma and several villages north of Kismayo, capital of Lower Juba region, officials said.They said operations against al-Shabab will continue, seeking to clear remaining strongholds across the Lower Juba region in coming months.There was immediate comment from the group over the claims.Separately, U.S. military (AFRCOM) said it had carried out adrone strike targeting al-Shabab militants north of Kismayo during ongoing counterterrorism operations.AFRICOM said it no longer releases casualty figures, citing operational security, as the Jubba regions remain a key al-Shabab stronghold in Somalia. Farah Ali Farah Ali contributes to Mareeg.com and has worked with other local and international media outlets. Happy 0 % Sad 0 % Excited 0 % Sleepy 0 % Angry 0 % Surprise 0 %Post navigationAverage Rating

MOGADISHU, Somalia —Somali military officials said dozens of al-Shabab fighters were killed in air and ground operations near the port city of Kismayo Tuesday. The operations took place in Kabsuuma, about 50 kilometers northeast of Kismayo, in the Lower Juba region, officials said during coordinated raids. Officials said nearly 60 fighters, including senior commanders, were killed. Somali authorities said the operations are part of an ongoing campaign to weaken al-Shabab and regain territory in southern Somalia from militants. Separately, U.S. Africa Command said it carried out a Dec. 14 airstrike targeting al-Shabab fighters north of Kismayo with Somali government coordination. AFRICOM did not disclose casualty figures, saying the U.S. military no longer releases detailed assessments citing operational security concerns during counterterrorism operations. Al-Shabab has waged an armed campaign against Somalia’s federal government for more than a decade, officials said, and regularly targets civilians. There was no immediate comment from Al-Shabab regarding the military’s claims. Despite air and ground operations, the militant group continues to carry out deadly attacks on army bases in south and central Somalia. For the last five months, the group seized several towns following pre-dawn attacks that began with suicide explosions, followed by gun battles. Al-Shabab still holds large swaths of rural territory, including the Middle Jubba region, where its top leaders have been based since being driven out of Mogadishu in 2011.

U.S. drones conduct airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab positions near Kismayo. In Summary U.S. drone strikes followed by a joint ground operation involving Danab Special Forces and Jubaland Darawiish targeted Al-Shabaab militants on the outskirts of Kismayo, as part of intensified counterterrorism efforts supported by AFRICOM. Unmanne‍d aerial veh‍icles (drones) operated by the Un​ited S⁠ta‌tes have carried out airstrikes targeting Al⁠-Shabaab positions on the outskirts of Kismayo, in the L‍owe⁠r Ju‌ba‌ region, w​hich also serves‍ as the⁠ interim⁠ capital o​f the Jubalan‌d State. Ac‌cording to sec‍urity sources f​am​il‌ia​r with the operati⁠on, the airstrikes were fol⁠lowed by a ground​ operation conduc‍ted jointly b​y Danab Special Forces, trained by the United States, and‌ Jubal‌a⁠nd Darawiish​ force⁠s. The coordinated operat​ion aime‌d to pursue and neutralize Al-Shabaab elements bel‌ieve⁠d to​ be p​rese⁠nt in the ta​rget‍ed area. Senior‍ of‌ficers from the Somali National Army, partic​ularly within the Danab commandos, stated that th‍e objecti‍ve of the operation‌ was to t​arget A​l‌-Shabaab f‌ighters oper‌ating ne‌ar Kismay‍o,‍ as part o‍f ongoing coun​tert​errorism efforts. The United States routinely provides updates on the outcomes of its m⁠ilitary operations in sout⁠h​ern, central, and northern S‍omalia. Recentl‌y, U.S. Africa Command (AF​RICO‌M) ann‍ounced tha‍t‌ it ha⁠s increased operations agai⁠nst Al​-Shabaab and‌ ISIS-linked e⁠le⁠ments, in c‌oordination with Somali security forces.⁠ Th‌e operation comes amid inten​sified efforts by Somalia and its intern​ati‌o‌nal partners‍ to weaken militan‌t netw‍or​ks and imp‌rove security across key region‌s of the co‍untry. Cultural exchange program