WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
(EPICSTORIAN) – U.S. airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump have eliminated a senior ISIS attack planner and multiple operatives in Somalia.
The strikes, which took place early Saturday morning, targeted terrorist hideouts in caves, marking a significant blow to the militant group.
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, “This morning I ordered precision Military air strikes on the Senior ISIS Attack Planner and other terrorists he recruited and led in Somalia.”
Targeting ISIS Key Threat
According to Trump, the militants had been hiding in fortified cave systems and posed a direct threat to the United States and its allies. “These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies,” he wrote.
The airstrikes reportedly destroyed the cave network, ensuring no safe haven remained for the terrorists. Trump emphasized that while many ISIS operatives were killed, there were no civilian casualties.
“The strikes destroyed the caves they live in and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians,” he asserted.
Years in the Making
Trump accused his predecessor, Joe Biden, of failing to act swiftly against the ISIS operative, stating that U.S. intelligence had been tracking the individual for years.
“The U.S. military had targeted this attack planner for years, but Biden and his cronies wouldn’t act quickly enough to get the job done,” Trump said. “I did! The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that ‘WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!’”
Military analysts have noted that the elimination of this senior planner could disrupt ISIS operations in East Africa, where the group has sought to expand its influence.
A Shift in U.S. Military Strategy?
Trump’s direct and forceful rhetoric marks a stark contrast to the counterterrorism strategy under Biden, which focused more on intelligence gathering and drone surveillance.
This latest strike may signal a return to more aggressive military action against ISIS and other extremist groups. Some experts believe that under Trump, the U.S. military will prioritize rapid-response strikes over prolonged engagements.
Global Reactions
The strike has drawn mixed reactions from international leaders and security analysts. Some hailed it as a strong move against terrorism, while others warned of potential retaliatory attacks from ISIS-affiliated groups.
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The Somali government has yet to issue an official statement, but sources suggest that local security forces were informed of the operation beforehand.
