U.S. Africa Command Strikes al-Shabaab Near Welmaro in Seventh July Operation
The recent strikes concentrated in areas west and southwest of Mogadishu and north and northwest of Kismayo.
SOMALIA — U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab on July 15 in the vicinity of Welmaro, approximately 62 miles (100 km) north of Kismayo. The command released the statement on July 20.
The July 15 strike was the seventh airstrike AFRICOM announced against al-Shabaab in Somalia between July 3 and July 15, all conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia.
The strikes concentrated in areas west and southwest of Mogadishu and north and northwest of Kismayo.
AFRICOM public affairs statements released between July 5 and July 20 described each action in near-identical language and withheld unit, platform, and battle-damage details for operational security.
According to the command’s official 2026 strikes listing, the United States had conducted 76 strikes inside Somalia by the most recent update, with all seven July entries focused exclusively on al-Shabaab.
Earlier months in the year also included strikes against ISIS-Somalia elements in the Golis Mountains.
The AFRICOM strikes page states that the command conducts strikes in coordination with African partners and under the authorities of the President of the United States when necessary to degrade terrorists’ ability to plan and conduct attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, U.S. forces, and U.S. citizens abroad.
The page further states that AFRICOM maintains a strike process that aims to mitigate risks and takes significant measures to comply with the principles of the Law of Armed Conflict.
July Strike Locations and Timing
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