Even as the Trump administration is signaling a desire to pull back from conflict zones and other global hot spots, the first several weeks of the president’s second term have witnessed multiple kinetic strikes against the Islamic State-Somalia (IS-S) branch. The group boasts approximately 1,000 fighters and has more recently been successful in expanding its […]| The Soufan Center
Al-Shabaab’s 2025 Shabelle offensive has achieved significant territorial gains and racked up key operational successes in the Shabelle regions of Somalia since its initiation in February. The group’s advances have left Mogadishu scrambling for reinforcements, seeking international support from the United States, Türkiye, and the African Union to bolster its defenses. The current Somali threat […]| The Soufan Center
Somalia and Türkiye recently agreed to a ten-year defense deal that will see Ankara helping Mogadishu with security cooperation and building the capacity of its naval forces.| The Soufan Center
On July 20, al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, recaptured the towns of Sabiid and Anole, located roughly 40 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region| The Soufan Center