Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed has reiterated his commitment to eliminating international terrorist groups operating in the country and highlighted ongoing efforts to combat al-Shabab and Daesh.
Speaking at the opening of Hodan Hospital in Mogadishu, Mohammed emphasized the need to strengthen healthcare for soldiers wounded in counterterrorism operations. He also praised recent US airstrikes targeting Daesh fighters in the northern Puntland region, describing them as a demonstration of the strong security partnership between Somalia and the US.
“The decisive US action underscores our shared determination to eliminate threats to peace and prevent Somalia from becoming a haven for terrorists,” Mohammed said.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that two Daesh militants were killed in an airstrike in Puntland last week. This was the third US operation in Somalia in two months. Meanwhile, Somali security forces have intensified their counter-terrorism efforts and launched sustained offensives that have liberated key areas from militant control.
More than 30 Daesh fighters were killed in airstrikes targeting their positions in the Almiskaad mountains in the Bari region last Wednesday, according to security officials.