Joint Airstrike Hits ISIS Positions in Northern Somalia, AFRICOM Confirms

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: In a decisive show of force, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Somali government launched a joint airstrike deep in the Golis Mountains of Bari region, targeting entrenched ISIS militants in one of their last remaining footholds in northern Somalia.

The strike, carried out with precision and in close coordination with the Somali National Army, hit ISIS positions in the remote highlands, inflicting casualties and disrupting the group’s operations.

AFRICOM confirmed the action in an official statement, describing it as part of a broader campaign to “degrade ISIS’s ability to conduct attacks” inside Somalia and across the Horn of Africa.

Though the exact number of militant casualties remains undisclosed, officials described the operation as “tough and targeted,” signaling an escalation in efforts to neutralize the extremist factions northern command centers.

For years, the Golis and Caalmiskaad mountain ranges have served as natural hideouts for ISIS operatives who splintered from al-Shabaab, establishing a presence in Puntland’s rugged terrain. But that sanctuary is increasingly under siege.

In a parallel offensive, Puntland regional forces have also intensified their ground operations in the Caalmiskaad Mountains, flushing out fighters and dismantling supply routes used by the group.

The dual campaigns, air and ground, mark a significant uptick in pressure against ISIS in Somalia, where the group, though smaller than al-Shabaab, has remained a lethal player through targeted assassinations, extortion, and sporadic attacks.

The recent strike reflects not just a military tactic but a strategic message: that international and Somali forces are tightening the net around extremist elements wherever they operate.