Somalia has witnessed a sharp increase in foreign military strikes this year, with U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducting at least 34 airstrikes in 2025 alone — killing an estimated 109 to 174 people, according to a new report by the New America Foundation. The uptick in air operations aligns with an intensified joint offensive led by Puntland forces in the mountainous north, targeting entrenched DAESH positions.
The New America Foundation, which monitors global air campaigns, noted that the scale of U.S. strikes this year already rivals the four-year total under the Biden administration, which recorded 51 airstrikes from 2021 to 2024. In contrast, former President Donald Trump’s first term saw a staggering 219 airstrikes in Somalia.
Despite AFRICOM’s emphasis on eliminating threats posed by al-Shabaab and DAESH-Somalia, the report did not confirm how many of the casualties were civilians — raising continued concern among rights groups about accountability and transparency.
Meanwhile, Puntland’s Counter-Terrorism Command announced a significant victory this week, stating that U.S.-supported airstrikes had killed at least 10 DAESH fighters hiding in caves between the Balade and Miraale valleys. These militants were reportedly fleeing from the recently liberated Miraale Valley, where Puntland troops overran DAESH’s headquarters and secured key logistical hubs, including water sources and defensive positions.
Security sources say remaining DAESH fighters are regrouping near the Balade River, a strategic area close to Bosaso. Puntland officials maintain that the anti-DAESH operation is nearing its final stage after 15 years of intermittent control by extremists in the region.
“For the first time in over a decade, we’ve restored control over all the territories that were once safe havens for DAESH,” said a senior Puntland military officer. “This is a turning point in the fight against terrorism in Somalia.”
General Michael Langley, head of AFRICOM, recently affirmed Washington’s continued support to “disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks threatening regional stability.” However, international observers have urged AFRICOM to improve civilian harm reporting mechanisms, especially as strike intensity rises.
As the fight against terror expands in Somalia, the Somali government and its partners face the dual challenge of maintaining momentum on the battlefield while safeguarding civilian lives and building public trust in the military campaign.