“Will Find You, And Kill You”: Trump After US Airstrikes ISIS In Somalia
On February 1, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the execution of military airstrikes targeting Islamic State (ISIS) operatives in Somalia, marking his first military action since taking office for a second term. The strikes aimed at a senior ISIS attack planner and other militants who were reportedly hiding in caves in the Golis Mountains of Puntland, Somalia. Trump emphasized that these individuals posed threats to the United States and its allies, stating, “These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies”.
In his announcement on Truth Social, Trump declared that the precision airstrikes were successful and resulted in multiple ISIS operatives being killed without harming any civilians. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth corroborated this assessment, noting that initial evaluations indicated several militants were neutralized during the operation. He described the strikes as a significant blow to ISIS’s operational capabilities, reinforcing the message that the U.S. is committed to finding and eliminating terrorists who threaten American interests: “The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that ‘WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!'”.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressed gratitude for U.S. support in combating terrorism, indicating that he was informed about the airstrike beforehand. Local military commanders reported hearing explosions and seeing smoke in the targeted areas but did not have immediate details on casualties. The operation reflects ongoing U.S. counterterrorism efforts in Somalia, which have previously included strikes against both ISIS and Al-Shabaab militants
