https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-he-ordered-airstrikes-islamic-state-somalia-2025-02-01
In early February Trump announced that U.S. forces had carried out on airstrike in the Golis Mountains in Somalia. The strike was carried out to target ISIS members that were reported to be hiding out in the caves within the mountains. The number of deaths is unknown but the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reports that no civilians were harmed. Videos of the airs trick were released on X by Trump. Quotes were also released of Trump saying,”These killers, who were found hiding in caves, treated the United States and our Allies,” and, ” The strike destroyed the caves they live in, and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians.” The Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was reported to have gratitude for ” the unwavering support of the United States in our shared fight against terrorism.” The article highlights how the U.S. continues to support the destruction of terrorists groups that threaten the U.S. and its allies.
Somalia has been a region of chaos and terror for years. This event will have long lasting effect on the land. Who knows if the caves will be reopened. There is also the chance that there were civilians that were injured, which would be reflect badly on the United States action. There is not much the majority of the world agrees on but it seems on thing they do is they all want the downfall of ISIS. This is probably why the U.S. was easily able to go into Somalia and perform the airstrike.
This event solidifies that Trump will continue to have an international presence during his presidency but it will be more military focussed. Somalia has been through much turmoil with messy civil war and dispute with neighboring states their economy has become poor. With the help of the U.S there is a higher chance of decreasing the threats of terrorism within the region. This also helps the U.S. gain more influence within Africa, whether they are looking to use or not. This can open new ways for trade and it further pushes the narrative that the U.S. is strong militarily.
In the class everything can be tied back to power. Who has control or influence over what, who’s in debt to who, who has the strongest military. The U.S. has many different military based but have been slowing decreasing the uses of them. This can be seen as a sign of losing military strength but with this airstrike in reinstates that the U.S. is still a very strong international powerhouse.