U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) reportedly said that U.S. troops conducted the last four airstrikes in southern Somalia for the past week, targeting Al-Shabab militants. According to a statement released by AFRICOM, the airstrikes took place on 14, 16, 18 and 19th June, 2026.
AFRICOM did not provide further details on the exact areas that have been targeted or the number of casualties in the aftermath of the airstrikes, stating that these information are not released for the security of the operations.
Somalia’s Ministry of Defense reportedly said that a unit of Danab Commandos carried out an operation on June 14, 2026 in South Somalia, successfully neutralized and eliminated 14 Al-Shabab militants, although it has not been confirmed that the operation was similar to AFRICOM operations.
The report indicates that this is the first time AFRICOM has officially announced airstrikes since May 6, although Somalia’s Ministry of Defense has previously reported other operations that included airstrikes supported by the international partners.
According to the AFRICOM statement, the United States has carried out at least 67 airstrikes in Somalia this year. The report added that the administration of President Donald Trump increased the airstrikes, after easing the rules governing the use of drones and attacks in areas that are not officially recognized as war zones.
The report also noted that these attacks coincided with Somalia’s political disputes and conflicts related to elections, with differences between the Federal Government and other political parties.
