Wednesday February 26, 2025
A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone conducts surveillance and strike operations in an undisclosed location. The drone has been a key asset in counterterrorism missions, including recent U.S. airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia.
Mogadishu (HOL) — U.S. military airstrikes targeted Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia's Middle Shabelle region on Tuesday after the group suffered a major battlefield defeat at the hands of Somali government forces and allied local militias, Somalia's Ministry of Information announced.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), in coordination with the Somali National Army (SNA), launched the airstrike as the militants attempted to regroup after a failed assault on the town of Alkowsar, a key settlement in Hirshabelle state. Officials described the operation as a "precision strike" that resulted in significant militant casualties, further degrading the group's combat capabilities.
"The Somali National Army and the U.S. Africa Command executed an airstrike that critically weakened terrorist militants who had suffered a defeat and were attempting to escape after their attack on Alkowsar," the Ministry of Information said in a statement.
The strike followed a fierce battle between government forces, backed by local Ma'awisley fighters, and Al-Shabaab militants, who attempted to seize Alkowsar in a surprise attack. Somali troops and allied fighters successfully repelled the assault, forcing Al-Shabaab militants to retreat before they were struck by U.S. airpower.
Somali and U.S. military officials are still assessing the extent of casualties inflicted by the airstrike, but the Ministry of Information stated that Al-Shabaab had suffered severe losses in both the ground battle and the subsequent air attack.
"The damage to the enemy is still being evaluated, but this operation has significantly weakened their ability to regroup," the ministry added, promising to keep the public informed as more details emerge.
The latest airstrike highlights the increasing U.S. involvement in Somalia's fight against Al-Shabaab and other militant groups in Somalia. President Donald Trump's administration has significantly expanded airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia since January 2025, launching multiple airstrikes in February 2025, including self-defence strikes against Al-Shabaab near Bulo Burti (Feb. 20) and attacks on ISIS-Somalia in northeastern Somalia (Feb. 1, Feb. 16).
The Somali government, supported by African Union peacekeeping forces (ATMIS), U.S. military advisors, and local resistance fighters (Ma'awisley militias), has been expanding its counterterrorism offensive across central and southern Somalia. The ongoing airstrike campaign is part of a broader strategy to dismantle Al-Shabaab's strongholds and limit the group's ability to coordinate attacks inside Somalia and beyond.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group, has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 15 years, carrying out deadly attacks across the country and in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia.
However, the group has faced mounting military pressure in recent months, losing ground to a combination of Somali government offensives, U.S. air support, and local resistance forces. Somali officials say these sustained operations are steadily eroding Al-Shabaab's grip on the country.
"The Federal Government of Somalia, in partnership with international allies such as U.S. AFRICOM, remains committed to eliminating terrorist groups that threaten Somalia and global security," the statement from the Ministry of Information said.