February 2nd 2025.
In recent news, the government of Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region has confirmed that U.S. military strikes in the Golis Mountains have resulted in the deaths of several "key figures" of the ISIL group. This announcement comes after President Donald Trump took credit for the successful strikes, boasting that there were no civilian casualties and making other bold claims.
According to Al-Jazeera, Trump took to social media to declare that the strikes had "destroyed the caves they live in" and had successfully eliminated many terrorists without causing harm to innocent civilians. He also took a jab at former President Joe Biden, stating that his administration failed to take action against the ISIS Attack Planner for years, but it was under his leadership that the job was finally done. Trump's message to all those who threaten the safety of Americans was clear: "We will find you, and we will kill you."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also expressed his satisfaction with the strikes, stating that it further weakens ISIS's ability to plan and execute terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies. However, according to The Washington Post, the initial report from U.S. Africa Command claiming no civilian casualties should be taken with caution. In the past, they have made similar claims only to later admit responsibility for civilian deaths under pressure from human rights groups and local citizens.
In a surprising turn of events, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Republic of Somalia praised Trump's actions in a press release. This comes as a surprise considering that Somali-American journalist Mohamed Gabobe reported in October 2024 that Mohamud's strategy to combat al-Shabab, a group with more influence in Somalia than ISIL, was causing further divisions within the country.
Elizabeth Shackleford, a former diplomat now working at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, believes that if American forces are going to be continuously deployed in Somalia, there needs to be a clearly defined plan. "We cannot be actively engaged in a war without proper authorization outlining our objectives, our enemies, and the actions we are allowed to take. This should be a basic requirement, but unfortunately, it seems to be overlooked," Shackleford stated.
In related news, there has been a call from Ron DeSantis and other Republicans for the deportation and expulsion of Rep. Ilhan Omar over her remarks about Somalia. This only adds to the ongoing political tensions and struggles within the country.
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