US dramatically escalates air strikes on Somalia under Trump this year

Al JazeeraCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete by Faisal AliDecember 17, 2025 at 03:10 PM

AI Summary

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Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, the US has dramatically escalated its air campaign in Somalia, conducting 111 strikes against armed groups, including al-Shabaab and ISIL. This number surpasses the combined totals of the Bush, Obama, and Biden administrations. The intensified campaign began in February, following a directive that loosened restrictions on strikes outside warzones. The US Africa Command conducted the most recent strike on December 14, targeting al-Shabaab members near Kismayo. The US supports Somalia's government by training forces and conducting air strikes. Somalia's war with armed groups was Africa's third-deadliest last year, resulting in over 7,000 deaths.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

US Africa Command 50% al-Shabaab ×280% Donald Trump ×7100% United States ×3100% Somalia ×5100%

Keywords

air strikes 100% somalia 90% donald trump 80% al-shabaab 70% military campaign 70% armed groups 60% us africa command 60% us military 50% africom 50% civilian casualties 40%