In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab on Dec. 15, 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.

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.Defense Industry 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.

ShareKismaayo (Caasimada Online) – Various reports are emerging about the casualties resulting from the battle between Jubbaland forces and Al-Shabaab militants that took place today outside the city of Kismayo, the capital of Lower Jubbaland region. The fierce battle came after Al-Shabaab launched an artillery attack on a Jubbaland forces base in the Baarsanguni area, which was followed by a direct battle between the two sides. The Jubbaland Darawiish forces that left the camp defended themselves from the Al-Shabaab invasion, and there were casualties on both sides. The reports add that the battle was fought twice, and the sides used different types of weapons. Officials from Jubbaland said that they defeated the Al-Shabaab that attacked, and killed leaders and militants who were part of the foiled attack. They also indicated that they recovered weapons and military equipment that escaped from the attackers who were later defeated in the battle that took place outside Kismayo. The situation remains tense, with opposition movements being felt in many parts of the Lower Juba region. Al-Shabaab is strong in the Juba region, where they have large bases from which they organize attacks on military posts in those regions in southern Somalia.

ShareKismaayo (Caasimada Online) – Warar kala duwan ayaa kasoo baxaya khasaaraha ka dhashay dagaal u dhexeeyay ciidamada Jubbaland iyo maleeshiyaadka Al-Shabaab oo maanta ka dhacay banaanka magaalada Kismaayo ee xarunta gobolka Jubbada Hoose. Dagaalka oo ahaa mid xooggan ayaa yimid kadib markii ay Al-Shabaab weerar madaafiic ah ku qaadeen saldhig ciidamada Jubbaland ku leeyihiin deegaanka Baarsanguuni, waxaana kadib xigay dagaal toos ah oo dhex maray labada dhinac. Ciidanka Daraawiishta Jubbaland oo ka baxay xerada ayaa iska difaacay duulaanka Al-Shabaab, waxaana jira khasaare soo kala gaaray labada dhinac ee dagaalamay. Wararka ayaa intaasi ku daraya in dagaalka la’isku laabtay laba mar, waxaana ay dhinacyadu isku adeegsadeen hubka noocyadiisa kala duwan. Saraakiil ka tirsan Jubbalnad ayaa sheegay in dagaalka ay ku jabiyeen Al-Shabaabkii weerarka soo qaaday, ayna dileen horjoogayaal iyo maleeshiyaad qayb ka ahaa weerarka la fashiliyay. Waxaa kale oo ay tilmaameen inay soo furteen hub iyo saanad milatari oo ay ka carareen xubnaha weerarka soo qaaday ee markii dambe lagu jabiyay dagaalka ka dhacay duleedka magaalada Kismaayo. Xaaladda ayaa weli kacsan, waxaana dhaq-dhaqaaqyo iska soo horjeedo laga dareemayaa qaybo badan oo kamid ah gobolka Jubbada Hoose. Shabaab ayaa ku xooggan Jubbooyinka oo ay ku leeyihiin saldhigyo waa wayn oo ay kasoo abaabulaan weerarada ay ku qaadaan fariisimaha ciidamada ee ku yaalla gobolladaas oo dhaca koonfurta Soomaaliya.