WASHINGTON (WOWO) — The United States intensified airstrikes in Somalia in January, targeting the al-Shabab militant group and a local affiliate of the Islamic State, as part of a broader campaign aimed at weakening extremist organizations that U.S. officials say pose a potential threat to American interests. U.S. Africa Command said American forces, working in coordination with Somalia’s federal government, carried out multiple airstrikes throughout the month. In a statement released Jan. 12, AFRICOM said strikes against al-Shabab militants were conducted to “degrade the group’s ability to threaten the U.S. homeland, U.S. forces and Americans overseas.” Additional airstrikes targeted ISIS-Somalia in northern parts of the country on Jan. 11 and Jan. 9, including in the Golis Mountains region of Puntland, southeast of the port city of Bosaso, the command said. Earlier strikes were reported Jan. 8 near Buur Heybo, roughly 154 kilometers (96 miles) northwest of Mogadishu, and additional operations were conducted between the evening of Jan. 3 and Jan. 4 in coordination with Somali authorities. AFRICOM did not release casualty figures or provide details on damage assessments, a practice consistent with previous operations, citing the need to protect operational security. The January strikes are part of a broader escalation of U.S. military activity in Somalia. According to figures released by AFRICOM, the United States carried out 38 airstrikes against al-Shabab and ISIS-Somalia between Feb. 1 and June 10 of last year, following the Trump administration’s first strike in the country during that period. The command has said additional strikes have occurred since then. Independent monitoring groups have also reported an uptick in U.S. air operations since President Donald Trump returned to office in 2024. The Combating Terrorism Center cited comments made in April 2025 by AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael E. Langley, who warned lawmakers that extremist groups operating in Africa could eventually threaten the U.S. homeland. “We are acutely aware that if ISIS and al Qaeda groups continue their expansion, they will pose a direct threat to the U.S. homeland,” Langley told the Senate Armed Services Committee. He said AFRICOM would continue working closely with intelligence and interagency partners to limit risks to U.S. national security interests. Al-Shabab, an affiliate of al-Qaida, has been fighting Somalia’s central government since 2007 and still controls significant territory in south-central parts of the country. The group regularly carries out bombings and assaults targeting Somali security forces, government officials and civilians. ISIS-Somalia is a smaller faction, largely concentrated in Puntland’s mountainous northeast, where it competes with al-Shabab for fighters, resources and influence. According to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Somalia’s conflict with armed groups was the third-deadliest in Africa through 2024, with an estimated 7,289 people killed. U.S. officials say the airstrikes are conducted at the request of Somalia’s government and are intended to support Somali forces as they battle militant groups on the ground. AFRICOM did not immediately respond to questions seeking additional details about the January operations. The post U.S. Steps Up Airstrikes in Somalia Targeting Al-Shabab and ISIS, Military Says appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less