Wednesday March 18, 2026

Mogadishu (HOL) — U.S. Africa Command said Tuesday it carried out an airstrike targeting Islamic State militants in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region.
In a statement, AFRICOM said the strike took place March 16, 2026, in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) southeast of Bosaso.
“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,” the statement said.
The U.S. military did not disclose casualty figures or provide details on the extent of the damage caused by the strike. It also did not specify the units or assets involved, citing operational security.
U.S. forces have been supporting Somali federal authorities and Puntland security units in operations against ISIS fighters entrenched in the Cal Miskaat mountain range. Puntland officials say their forces have made significant gains in recent months as part of an intensified campaign to dismantle the group’s bases in the rugged terrain.
ISIS in Somalia, though smaller than al-Shabab, has established cells in parts of Puntland and has claimed responsibility for assassinations and bombings. The group’s mountainous strongholds have posed logistical challenges for regional forces attempting to uproot it.