Washington DC [US], February 2: The United States military launched airstrikes on Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in Somalia on Saturday (local time). The strikes, carried out in the Golis mountain region, were authorized by President Donald Trump, resulting in the deaths of several operatives, according to US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.
In a post on X, US President Donald Trump explained that the airstrikes targeted ISIS operatives hiding in caves. He stated, “This morning I ordered precision Military air strikes on the Senior ISIS Attack Planner and other terrorists he recruited and led in Somalia. These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies. The strikes destroyed the caves they live in, and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians.”
President Trump also criticized former President Joe Biden for not acting swiftly enough against ISIS, saying, “Our Military has targeted this ISIS Attack Planner for years, but Biden and his cronies wouldn’t act quickly enough to get the job done. I did! The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that We WILL FIND You, AND We WILL KILL You.”
Secretary of Defence Hegseth emphasized that the strikes disrupted ISIS’s operations, diminishing their ability to plan and carry out attacks that threaten US citizens, partners, and innocent civilians. He also stressed that the United States remains committed to finding and eliminating terrorists under President Trump’s leadership.
According to The Hill, Trump had previously warned terrorist groups like ISIS. However, he also suggested the US should distance itself from Syria, following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Trump had remarked, “We’re not involved in Syria. Syria’s its own mess. They’ve got enough messes over there. They don’t need us involved in everyone.”