Mogadishu, Somalia – The government of Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region announced on February 2 that recent US military airstrikes in the Golis mountains have successfully neutralized key figures within the ISIS terror group. The strikes, ordered by US President Donald Trump on February 1, targeted a senior ISIS attack planner and other terrorists.
The Puntland Defence Forces have been conducting operations against ISIS in the Golis mountains since December 2024. The regional government described the US involvement as “invaluable” and expressed “sincere gratitude” for the support.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, briefed on the strikes on February 1, emphasized the strong security partnership between the two nations and extended his deepest gratitude to Washington. He stated, “Terrorism will neither find friends, nor any place to call home, in Puntland state and entire Somalia”.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIS operatives, with no civilian casualties reported.
The operation, jointly coordinated by the Somali and American governments, marks a significant advancement in the ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in the region.