Trump Orders Feb. 1 Airstrikes on Islamic State in Northern Somalia as U.S. Nears Dozen Operations
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 31
Trump Orders Feb. 1 Airstrikes on Islamic State in Northern Somalia as U.S. Nears Dozen Operations
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 31
Feb. 1, 2025 airstrikes in northern Somalia were among President Donald Trump’s first military actions after returning to office, targeting Islamic State operatives and recruits.
The administration cast the strikes as the opening of a ramped-up counterterrorism campaign in the Horn of Africa, signaling a broader operational push.
That move sits uneasily with Trump’s earlier vows to avoid “endless wars” and his 2024 self-description as “the candidate of peace.”
Nearly a dozen U.S. military operations worldwide since his return — including conflict against Iran and a raid ending in Venezuela’s president’s arrest — have underscored the gap between that rhetoric and policy.
Are US military actions redefining the rules of war and international law for the 21st century?
With a key trade route blocked and allies fearful, what is the true global cost of America's military assertiveness?