In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted an airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia on Feb. 13, 2026.The airstrike occurred in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 50 km southeast of Bossaso.AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade ISIS-Somalia’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.

An uptick in joint U.S. military operations is currently underway in east Africa. America’s most recent offensive there appears to have kicked off with a visit to the region from the head of U.S. Africa Command in the waning days of 2025 and has ramped up throughout January and February of 2026. The joint operations focus on counter-terrorism and degrading the capabilities of specific extremist groups in the region. However, the offensive also sends out a message that the U.S. remains engaged in east Africa – a message no doubt meant for China and Russia, amongst others. Back in early December 2025, U.S. AFRICOM commander, General Dagvin Anderson, visited Ethiopia and Somalia, emphasizing to leaders in the two countries that the United States “supports maximum pressure on ISIS, al-Shabaab, and other violent terrorist organizations.” Anderson’s visit was soon followed by a series of airstrikes against ISIS-Somalia and al-Shabaab targets. Notably, those strikes were also publicized by AFRICOM in multiple press releases. On February 3, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike against ISIS-Somalia in the Golis Mountains. Then, on February 9 and February 10, U.S. forces conducted airstrikes against al-Shabaab in southern Somalia and the Kismayo area. All three airstrikes were carried out jointly with the Somali Armed Forces, according to AFRICOM’s press releases. These operations follow more joint airstrikes in January 2026 and in the past year against ISIS-Somalia targets in the region. These strikes aimed at undermining the group’s ability to be a financial and propaganda hub for larger ISIS operations against the U.S. homeland and across the region. ISIS-Somalia emerged as an offshoot of al-Shabaab in 2015. It is based in the Puntland region in northeastern Somalia. It provides planning and funding for global attacks and recruits fighters. The airstrikes and their publication are a key way for the U.S. to maintain a robust presence in a contested area without committing large numbers of troops or other resources. While the Russian Wagner Group continues to operate in northern Africa, and China continues to invest in countries on the continent, the U.S. is wise to safeguard its national interests in the region and prevent outsized influence being exercised by those two rival powers. The north of Africa – the Maghreb clear over to the Horn of Africa – has become a proverbial battleground amongst competing powers in recent decades. The United States, China, Russia, European states, and even Gulf countries all vie for influence and commercial advantage in a region that links Europe to energy-rich areas farther south, and sits atop significant global trade routes that cross land and sea. Much as the Romans some 2,000 years ago recognized the strategic significance of northern Africa, today’s great powers also know that they cannot afford to ignore this significant geopolitical hub. Feature Image: U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and AFRICOM senior leaders tour the Port of Berbera to assess the security environment and review the port’s operational capacity in Berbera, Somaliland, Nov. 26, 2025. The visit was part of an East Africa trip which featured stops in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Hargeisa, Somaliland and Bosaso in Somalia’s member state of Puntland. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Tucceri)

Somalia’s defence ministry said on Sunday that a precision airstrike killed 15 al-Shabaab fighters in the Middle Shabelle region, as authorities step up efforts to disrupt the militant group’s roadside bomb operations. In a statement, the ministry said the strike targeted a mobile unit allegedly attempting to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along a strategic roadway used by military and civilian convoys. Officials said a vehicle carrying explosives was destroyed along with weapons caches. The claims could not be independently verified. Joint operation The ministry said the strike was conducted by the Somali National Army (SNA) in coordination with unspecified international partners. Similar operations in recent months have involved the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Turkish forces operating in Somalia, though the ministry did not specify which ally provided support in Sunday’s operation. Al-Shabaab, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, frequently uses roadside bombs to target security forces and civilian transport routes. Under AUSSOM framework The operation took place under the mandate of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia in early 2025. Security officials have increasingly focused on pre-emptive strikes against IED units in Middle and Lower Shabelle, regions that have seen sustained insurgent activity. The Feb. 15 strike followed intensified air operations earlier in the year, including strikes on Feb. 13 targeting Islamic State-linked militants in the Golis Mountains in northern Somalia. Continued campaign “Our forces remain committed to securing the key transport arteries of our nation,” the defence ministry said, describing the strike as a significant blow to the group’s operational capacity. The Somali government has pledged to maintain coordinated air and ground offensives against militant networks. Analysts say the increased tempo reflects improved intelligence sharing and growing operational capacity under the AUSSOM framework. Further updates are expected as authorities assess the impact of the strike on al-Shabaab’s activities in the region.