The United States and Somalia have conducted air strikes targeting the Islamic State (IS) group in northern Somalia, the country’s federal government and the US military said Wednesday.
The extremist group has a relatively small presence in the east African country compared to the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab, but experts have warned of growing activity.
A coordinated operation led by the United States African Command (AFRICOM) with the federal government had targeted “known hideouts of ISIS terrorists” based in the Golis mountains in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, Mogadishu said, using another acronym for IS.
The strikes were carried out Tuesday night, a short statement said, adding initial reports “suggest that multiple ISIS fighters were killed, with no civilian casualties reported.” No further details were given.
The statement said the strikes complemented a “larger counter-terrorism initiative” currently being undertaken by local forces in the Al-Miskeed mountain range.
AFRICOM later issued a statement confirming the strikes, likewise saying it assessed that multiple IS operatives were killed while no civilians were harmed.
The jihadist group “has proved both its will and capability to attack US and partner forces. This group’s malicious efforts threaten US security interests,” AFRICOM added.
Puntland authorities have not commented on the strikes.
The Puntland Defence Forces have been carrying out operations in the region against IS since December, with the extremist group said to have established a presence in the Golis mountains.
It follows US strikes in February, which Puntland authorities said had killed “key figures” in IS, without giving further details.
