In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab on Jan. 8, 2026.The airstrike occurred in the vicinity of Buur Heybo, Somalia, approximately 154 km northwest of Mogadishu.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.

PRESS RELEASE Danab Special Forces of the Somali National Army conducted a targeted overnight operation in Buur Eyle, Buur Hakaba District (Bay Region), eliminating 22 Al-Shabaab terrorists and destroying explosive-laden vehicles before planned attacks could be carried out.

The US has launched at least eight airstrikes in Somalia so far in 2026 The US has launched four more airstrikes in Somalia, according to press releases from US Africa Command, as the Trump administration continues bombing the country at a record pace. AFRICOM said in two separate press releases that it conducted airstrikes against al-Shabaab in different parts of southern Somalia on January 8. The command said one strike was launched near Saakow, Somalia, in the Middle Juba region. According to Somalia’s Defense Ministry, the strike was part of an attack that destroyed an al-Shabaab explosives factory and killed 18 militants. AFRICOM provided no details on casualties or assessments of potential civilian harm, as it stopped sharing that information early last year. The second airstrike the US launched against al-Shabaab on January 8 targeted Buur Heybe, about 95 miles northwest of Mogadishu. Somalia’s Defense Ministry announced that its US-trained Danab force conducted an operation in the same area that it claimed “eliminated 22 terrorists” and said the Danab received support from “international partners.” The US airstrikes in support of the Mogadishu-based Federal Government come after the Trump administration announced it was suspending aid to the government over allegations that it demolished a World Food Program warehouse, a claim Somali officials deny. The continued US strikes indicate that the suspension of aid will not affect US military operations in the country. AFRICOM also announced that its forces launched airstrikes against the ISIS affiliate in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region on January 8 and January 9. The command said that both strikes were launched about 20 miles southeast of the Gulf of Aden port city of Bosaso. The latest US attacks in Somalia bring the total number of US airstrikes in the country so far in 2026 to at least eight, a tally based on the number of press releases put out by AFRICOM. The command told Antiwar.com in an email over the weekend that it launched a total of 124 airstrikes in Somalia in 2025, a record-shattering number, nearly double the previous annual record of 63, which President Trump set during his first term in 2019. Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave. Join the Discussion! We welcome thoughtful and respectful comments. Hateful language, illegal content, or attacks against Antiwar.com will be removed. For more details, please see our Comment Policy.

MOGADISHU – The Special Forces of the Danab Commandos of the Somali National Army conducted a planned and targeted operation last night in the Buur Eyle area of Buur Hakaba district, Bay region. The operation targeted Al-Shabaab members who had been under surveillance for some time, who were preparing suicide attacks and vehicle-borne explosives. As a result of the operation, 22 plotters were killed, and all explosives and vehicle-borne explosives were destroyed. The information obtained indicates that the group was planning attacks to harm the Somali people and security targets, but Danab forces thwarted the plan before it could be carried out. The Special Forces of the Danab Commandos, accompanied by international partners, safely returned to their bases after the completion of the operation. The Ministry of Defense and the Somali National Army Command commend the courage, skill, and vigilance of the National Army, reaffirming that counter-terrorism operations will continue until the threat of Al-Shabaab is eliminated, and the security and stability of the country are ensured.

MUQDISHO – Ciidamada Gaarka ah ee Kumaandooska Danab ee Ciidanka Xoogga Dalka Soomaaliyeed ayaa xalay hawlgal qorshaysan oo beegsi ah ka fuliyay deegaanka Buur Eyle ee degmada Buur Hakaba, gobolka Bay. Hawlgalka ayaa lagu bartilmaameedsaday xubno ka tirsan  a Al-Shabaab oo muddo lagu daba-socday, kuwaas oo diyaarinayay weerarro is-qarxin ah iyo gaadiid qaraxyo lagu rakibay. Natiijada hawlgalka, 22 dhagarqabe ayaa lagu dilay, waxaana la burburiyay dhammaan agabkii qaraxyada iyo gaadiidkii qaraxyada siday. Xogta la helay ayaa muujinaysa in kooxdaasi ay qorshaynayeen weerarro lagu waxyeelleeyo shacabka Soomaaliyeed iyo bartilmaameedyo amni, balse ciidamada Danab ayaa ka hortagay qorshahaas ka hor inta uusan fulin. Ciidamada Gaarka ah ee Kumaandooska Danab, oo ay wehliyeen saaxiibada caalamka, ayaa si nabadgelyo ah ugu soo laabtay saldhigyadoodii kaddib dhammeystirka hawlgalka. Wasaaradda Gaashaandhigga iyo Taliska Ciidanka Xoogga Dalka Soomaaliyeed waxay bogaadinayaan geesinimada, xirfadda, iyo feejignaanta Ciidanka Qaranka, iyagoo mar kale adkaynaya in hawlgallada ka dhanka ah argagixisada ay sii socon doonaan ilaa laga ciribtirayo khatarta Al-Shabaab, lana xaqiijiyo amniga iyo xasilloonida dalka.

The attack took place in Buur Heybo, about 154 kilometers (97 miles) from Mogadishu. The United States has increased its airstrikes in Somalia this January, targeting Al-Shabaab and ISIS, according to the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). On January 12, AFRICOM said that U.S. forces, working with the Somali federal government, had conducted airstrikes against Al-Shabaab militants. AFRICOM said the operation was part of an ongoing effort to degrade the group’s ability to threaten the United States, U.S. forces, and U.S. personnel abroad. Airstrikes against ISIS-Somalia were also reported on January 9 and 11 in northern Somalia, including in the Golis Mountains of Puntland, southeast of Bosaso. Another airstrike targeting al-Shabaab was reported on January 8 in the Buur Heybo area, about 154 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu. AFRICOM said in a statement that the strikes were part of a broader campaign with Somali partners. No casualties were reported. The series of operations comes at a time of increasing U.S. airstrikes in Somalia. According to AFRICOM, the Trump administration has conducted 38 airstrikes against al-Shabaab and the Islamic State in Somalia since its first airstrikes in 2025. Independent groups have reported an increase in attacks since President Donald Trump took office in 2024, according to a report by the Counterterrorism Center. The report cited a statement by AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael E. Langley testified before the Joint Chiefs of Staff, describing the threat posed by jihadist groups in Africa to the United States. “We are acutely aware that if ISIS and al-Qaeda continue to expand, they will pose a direct threat to the United States,” Langley said.

Weerar ka dhacay Buur Heybo oo qiyaastii 154 KM u jirta magaalada Muqdisho. Mareykanka ayaa kordhiyay duqeymaha uu ka fuliyay Soomaaliya bishan Janaayo, isagoo la beegsaday weerarro Al-Shabaab iyo Daacish, sida uu sheegay Taliska Mareykanka ee Afrika (AFRICOM). 12-kii Jannaayo, AFRICOM ayaa sheegtay in ciidamada Mareykanka oo kaashanaya kuwa dowladda federaalka Soomaaliya ay fuliyeen duqeymo ka dhan ah maleeshiyada Al-Shabaab. AFRICOM waxay sheegtay in howlgalkan uu qeyb ka yahay dadaallada socda ee lagu doonayo in lagu wiiqo awoodda kooxda ee ah in ay u hanjabaan dalka Mareykanka, ciidamada Mareykanka iyo kuwa Mareykanka ee dibadda ku sugan. Duqeymo dhanka cirka ah oo ka dhan ah Daacish-Soomaaliya ayaa sidoo kale laga soo sheegay Jan 09- kii iyo 11-keedii Waqooyiga Soomaaliya, meelahaas oo ay ku jiraan Buuraha Golis ee Puntland, Koonfur Bari ee Boosaaso. Weeraro kale oo dhanka cirka ah oo lala beegsaday Al-Shabaab ayaa la sheegay in 8-dii Jannaayo ay ka dheceen agagaarka Buur Heybo oo qiyaastii 154 KM dhanka waqooyi galbeed kaga beegan magaalada Muqdisho. AFRICOM ayaa war qoraal ah oo ay soo saartay ku sheegtay in duqeymahaasi ay qeyb ka ahaayeen olole ballaaran oo lala sameeyay saaxiibada Soomaaliya. Lama sheegin khasaaraha ka dhashay. Howlgalladan is daba jooga ah ayaa kusoo beegmaya xilli ay sii kordhayaan duqeymaha diyaaradaha Mareykanka ee Soomaaliya. Sida lagu sheegay xog ay baahisay AFRICOM, Maamulka Trump duqaymihii ugu horreeyay ee 2025 illaa hadda wuxuu qaaday 38 weerar oo xagga cirka ah oo ka dhan ah Al-Shabaab iyo Dawladda Islaamiga ah ee Soomaaliya. Ururada madaxa banaan ayaa sheegay in ay kordheen weerarada tan iyo markii uu madaxweyne Donald Trump ku soo noqday xafiiska 2024-kii, sida lagu sheegay warbixin ay soo saartay Xarunta La-dagaalanka Argagixisada. Warbixintu waxay soo xigatay hadal uu bishii Abriil 2025 taliyaha AFRICOM Gen. Michael E. Langley ka hor jeediyay guddiga sare ee ciidamada qalabka sida, kaas oo uu ku tilmaamay khatarta kooxaha jihaad doonka ah ee Afrika ay ku hayaan dalka Maraykanka. “Waxaan si weyn ula soconaa in haddii kooxaha Daacish iyo Al-Qaacida ay sii wadaan is ballaarinta, ay khatar toos ah ku keeni doonaan dalka Mareykanka,” ayuu yiri Langley.