AFRICOM Confirms 63 Strikes in Somalia in 2026

On May 29, 2026, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that it had conducted 63 strikes in Somalia in 2026 to date in a reply to a query from New America’s Future Security Program.

AFRICOM’s tally of 63 strikes is notable, as on May 27, Somali Guardian published a report regarding an airstrike on May 21 that allegedly killed four civilians near the town of Qandala in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region. The report did not directly allege U.S. responsibility, and noted the challenge of attribution as multiple countries have been conducting air strikes in Somalia. AFRICOM’s tally of 63 strikes to date, functions as a denial that it conducted the May 21st strike because AFRICOM has already provided details on 63 strikes conducted prior to May 21. In addition, AFRICOM separately told New America that it did not conduct a strike in the reported vicinity of the May 21 strike.

The tally is also notable, as it may signal a slow-down in the pace of U.S. strikes in Somalia. The last declared U.S. strike occurred on May 6, 2026 when, according to an AFRICOM press release, the United States conducted a strike against ISIS-Somalia “in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, about 75 km southeast of Bossaso.” By New America’s tally, that was the 63rd strike declared by AFRICOM in 2026. If that was indeed the last strike to date, it would mean the United States has only conducted two strikes in May 2026 with only days left until the end of the month. This is a substantial shift, as by New America’s tally, AFRICOM declared 12 strikes in April, seven in March, 16 in February, and 26 in January.

New America has tracked 64 alleged U.S. strikes in Somalia in 2026, one more than AFRICOM’s tally.

The difference between New America’s count of 64 strikes and AFRICOM’s count of 63 strikes is the result of reports of an alleged U.S. strike on or around April 22 in the Cal-Miskaat mountains that AFRICOM denies conducting. On April 22, the Puntland Counter-Terrorism Operation Telegram channel published photos of bodies, and referred to American participation in the bombing of a cave housing ISIS fighters. AFRICOM told New America that it did not conduct a strike in the referenced location.

Monitoring the U.S. counterterrorism war in Somalia requires close tracking of U.S. strikes. New America’s database provides detailed information on confirmed and alleged strikes across more than two decades.

Source: New America