The United States military carried out a rare maritime airstrike off Somalia’s coast last week, destroying a stateless vessel and a support boat allegedly transporting advanced weapons destined for the militant group Al-Shabaab, Somali and U.S. officials confirmed.
According to Hiran Online operation, conducted by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), marks an unusual use of airpower against maritime smuggling networks in East Africa. According to Somali government sources, all individuals aboard the vessels were killed, and no civilian casualties were reported.
Authorities believe the primary vessel was carrying sophisticated weaponry intended to bolster Al-Shabaab’s military capabilities. Intelligence officials say the shipment may have been part of a growing arms pipeline between Yemen and Somalia, possibly involving actors linked to the Houthi movement.
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision to launch the strike was driven by updated Pentagon rules of engagement that prioritize speed over interdiction. “They didn’t have the luxury of time for a boarding mission,” the official noted.
Typically, such smuggling attempts are intercepted by naval patrols, including U.S. or coalition warships. However, this strike reflects a strategic shift toward long-range drone operations amid growing threats and reduced naval availability.
This evolving approach follows a tragic incident in January 2024, when two U.S. Navy SEALs died during a nighttime boarding mission in the same waters. The mission, aimed at stopping a suspected arms shipment bound for Yemen, ended in the deaths of Chief Special Warfare Operator Christopher Chambers and Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Nathan Ingram after both entered the sea under dangerous conditions. U.S. prosecutors later indicted two Iranian nationals believed to be connected to that smuggling operation.
Tensions in Somalia remain high. Al-Shabaab has launched a wave of deadly attacks in recent weeks, particularly around Mogadishu. In response, Turkey has deployed 500 soldiers to aid Somali forces, while AFRICOM has intensified its airstrikes against militant strongholds in central and southern Somalia.
U.S. analysts say the latest strike is part of a broader strategy to sever the group’s expanding cross-sea supply lines. Intelligence assessments suggest Al-Shabaab and Yemen’s Houthis may be collaborating on weapons transfers, using unregistered vessels to move arms across the Gulf of Aden.
With maritime smuggling now seen as a critical enabler for Al-Shabaab’s insurgency, the Pentagon appears prepared to expand its operational reach from land to sea in an effort to contain the threat.