The United States military carried out an airstrike targeting fighters affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in northeastern Somalia on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The operation took place in the Puntland region, according to a statement from U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
AFRICOM stated the strike was conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia. The command assessed that no civilians were killed or injured as a result of the operation, though the number of ISIS casualties was not immediately disclosed.
The strike targeted ISIS-Somalia militants, a branch that operates primarily in the mountainous areas of Puntland, distinct from the larger al-Shabab militant group active in southern and central Somalia. The U.S. military periodically conducts such strikes in support of Somali forces.
This action is part of a longstanding U.S. counterterrorism mission in the Horn of Africa. The Somali government has been engaged in a protracted conflict against multiple extremist groups within its territory.
