The US military conducted air strikes against Islamic State operatives in Somalia. (AP: US Africa Command)
In short:
The US military has conducted air strikes against Islamic State operatives in Somalia.
An initial assessment by the Pentagon indicated that "multiple" operatives were killed but no civilians were harmed.
The strikes mark the first attacks in the African nation during President Donald Trump's second term.
The US military has conducted air strikes against Islamic State (IS) operatives in Somalia, marking the first attacks in the African nation during President Donald Trump's second term.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Saturday local time that the strikes by US Africa Command were directed by Mr Trump and coordinated with Somalia's government.
An initial assessment by the Pentagon indicated that "multiple" operatives were killed.
The Pentagon said no civilians were harmed in the strikes.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the strikes were directed by President Trump. (AP: Alex Brandon)
In a post on social media, Mr Trump said a senior IS planner and recruits were targeted in the operation.
"The strikes destroyed the caves they live in, and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians," he said.
"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!"
Mr Trump did not identify the IS planner or say whether that person was killed in the strike.
White House officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The office of Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the operation "reinforces the strong security partnership" between the two countries in "combating extremist threats."
In a post on X, it said Somalia "remains resolute in working with its allies to eliminate international terrorism and ensure regional stability".
US counterterrorism strategy in Africa strained
The Pentagon's counterterrorism strategy in Africa has been strained as two key partners, Chad and Niger, ousted US forces last year.
The two countries took over key bases that the US military had used to train and conduct missions against terrorist groups across the Sahel, the vast arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert.
US military officials have warned that IS cells have received increasing direction from the group's leadership that relocated to northern Somalia.
That has included how to kidnap Westerners for ransom, learn better military tactics, hide from drones and build their own small quad copters.
The IS affiliate in Somalia emerged in 2015 as a breakaway faction from al-Shabab, al-Qaida's East African link.
While its influence is relatively limited compared to Al-Shabaab, IS in Somalia has been involved in attacks in southern and central Somalia.
The group funds its activities through extortion, smuggling, and illicit taxation.
Despite facing counterterrorism pressure from Somali security forces, it continues to operate in remote and urban areas, seeking to expand its influence through recruitment and propaganda.
The number of IS militants in the country are estimated to be in the hundreds, mostly scattered in the Cal Miskaat mountains in Puntland's Bari region, according to the International Crisis Group.
AP