US Building Military Base in Bosaso as Airstrikes Against ISIS Escalate

BOSASO — The United States is expanding its military presence in Somalia’s northern port city of Bosaso, effectively building a new base that will serve as a hub for combat and surveillance operations against ISIS and Al-Shabaab, according to Puntland security officials.

On September 3, U.S. surveillance drones carried out reconnaissance missions in the Al-Miskad mountains, a known ISIS stronghold, followed by airstrikes that broke a relative lull in U.S. attacks in Somalia. Puntland security officials told Drop Site News they expect the U.S. air campaign to intensify, with the new base playing a central role.

The base, located on the grounds of Bosaso airport, will allow the U.S. to conduct airstrikes directly from Bosaso rather than coordinating through Djibouti, as is currently the case. The CIA will also expand its operations there, officials said.

Agreement Reached in Addis Ababa

On August 2, a U.S. delegation led by AFRICOM met with Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni in Bosaso, announcing an agreement to “expand its military base” in the city. However, five Puntland security officials interviewed by Drop Site News said the announcement mischaracterized the significance of the deal, the U.S. did not previously have a military base in Bosaso, and the expansion effectively creates an entirely new military footprint.

The officials said the agreement was largely finalized in a closed-door meeting in Addis Ababa on July 27, with Deni signing a document presented by AFRICOM officials. Many Somali officials present at the August 2 meeting were not privy to the details of the deal.

The meeting follows a pattern of regular high-level engagement between Washington and Puntland, including a May 2026 visit by Acting U.S. Ambassador Justin Davis to Garowe and a broader push by AFRICOM to deepen security ties with regional administrations.

Escalating Air Campaign

The United States has carried out more airstrikes in Somalia under President Donald Trump than under any other president combined, according to New America, a think tank that monitors U.S. military operations overseas. Since Trump’s second inauguration, the U.S. has conducted 205 airstrikes in Somalia, with 53 percent targeting ISIS.

AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin Anderson has previously stated that the U.S. has no plans to establish a military base in Somaliland, dismissing widespread speculation that has fueled tensions in the Horn of Africa. However, the Bosaso expansion represents a different approach—one focused on deepening operational capabilities within existing Somali territory.

The U.S. engagement with Puntland comes amid broader concerns about the region’s stability, including a recent UN report that identified Bosaso as a transit hub for weapons trafficking to Sudan and a resurgence of piracy off the coast.

Critical Note

The expansion of the U.S. military footprint in Bosaso represents a significant escalation in America’s counterterrorism operations in Somalia. The new base will allow for more rapid and sustained air operations against ISIS and Al-Shabaab, potentially increasing the frequency and intensity of strikes.

However, the manner in which the agreement was reached, with President Deni signing a deal largely negotiated in Addis Ababa without the involvement of many Somali officials present at the announcement, raises questions about transparency and the extent of Puntland’s autonomy in security decision-making. The legality of the agreement under Somalia’s constitution, which reserves foreign affairs for the central government, is also uncertain.

U.S. airstrikes have been blamed for killing civilians, and the intensification of the campaign could increase the risk of civilian casualties. While Puntland officials argue U.S. support is necessary for the fight against ISIS, the expansion of the U.S. presence in the region may also inflame tensions with Somaliland and the federal government, which have competing claims over the territory.