American military intervention in Somalia (2007-present)

Since 2007, the United States has targeted militant groups linked to al-Qaeda within Somalia. The US has used airstrikes including targeted drone strikes and missiles launched from naval ships.

2007
A U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunship operating under JSOC targeted a suspected al-Qaeda convoy. The strike killed various potential fighters including Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, and Sudanese explosive expert Abu Talha al Sudani known as Tariq Abdullah. The convoy had been tracked at night by a MQ-1 Predator drone. An estimated 5–10 militants were killed and 4-5 injured. A joint U.S.–Ethiopian team landed at the strike location shortly after and confirmed at least 8 killed. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the militants killed in this strike were connected to the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.
 * January 7

Four towns near the southern city of Ras Kamboni were targeted by an AC-130 gunship. The strike which was targeting a training camp and al-Qaeda associates, reportedly left 4–31 people killed. The intended target was thought to be Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, the target of a previous airstrike. Another strike was reported near Afmadow in which 22–31 people were reported killed. At 4:00 a.m., an AC-130 gunship operating from an airbase in eastern Ethiopia, targeted the town of Waldena in an attempt to kill Ahmed Madobe, an Islamic Courts Union commander and deputy to Hassan Turki. Madobe survived the airstrike but was later captured by American and Ethiopian forces who landed by helicopter at 10:00 a.m. The USS Chafee fired a dozen rounds and possibly one cruise missile on the coast of Bargal, in northern Somalia. The strikes were targeting 35 militants that had landed on the coast and had begun to fire on local forces. U.S. officials told The New York Times that U.S. operatives were on the ground, leading to the American warship firing in self-defense. 8–12 militants, including some foreign fighters were killed.
 * January 9
 * January 23
 * June 1

2008
1–3 cruise missiles were launched by United States at the town of Dhobley in southern Somalia, four miles from the Kenyan border. The strike was targeting the leader of the Ras Kamboni Brigades known as Hassan Turki, and al-Qaeda member Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan. At the time, Saleh Alii was the subject of a $25 million bounty placed on him by the United States government. Four cruise missiles launched by a U.S. Navy warship struck a compound in Dhusamareb, in central Somalia. The strike killed senior al-Shabaab leader Aden Hashi Ayro and several other fighters. Reports suggest that an AC-130 was also involved in the operation. The attack purportedly caused al-Shabaab to ban the use of mobile phones by its fighters.
 * March 3
 * May 1

2009
Operation Celestial Balance – After several strikes by warplanes, U.S. commandos launch a helicopter raid near the southern coastal town of Barawa, killing Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan after his convoy was tracked as it left Mogadishu to attend a meeting between Islamic militants.
 * September 14

2011
During fighting in Dhobley between Somali forces and al-Shabaab militants, an airstrike took place which killed al-Qaeda commander Jabreel Malik Muhammed. This followed an eighteen month long gap in U.S. strikes in the area. In the first reported lethal drone strike conducted in Somalia, U.S. forces struck a training camp south of Kismayo, which supposedly resulted in the death of senior al Shabaab leader, Ibrahim al-Afghani. However, Stratfor reported in August that Afghani was still alive and had replaced Ahmed Abdi Godane as the emir of al-Shabaab. Afghani has not appeared in the public since. Early in the morning, U.S. drones hit three al-Shabaab training camps in Afmadow. It was not confirmed if the United States was responsible for the attack. Three explosions are heard after Kismayo residents reported aircraft flying over the town. Residents report the aircraft having struck at a forested area where militants are believed to have established a training camp. The aircraft are most likely American warplanes. Series of drone strikes target al-Shabaab militant in Kismayo. Drone strike targets al-Shabaab militants who were retreating into Dolbiyow Village. The attack killed 4 Somali farmers. Drone strike against an al Shabaab base near Taabta village. US drone attacked on Afmadow. US and French airstrikes in Kismayo.
 * April 3–6
 * June 23
 * July 6
 * September 15
 * September 25
 * October 6
 * October 13
 * October 22
 * October 23

2012
Three missiles fired by a drone target and kill the British–Lebanese militant Bilal al-Berjawi known as Abu Hafsa while he is driving in a car outside Mogadishu. US drone strike targeting a vehicle carrying a senior commander kills 7 militants in Lower Shabelle, including a prominent Moroccan, and a deputy of Bilah al-Berjawi. US airstrikes reportedly conducted into the town of Qandala.
 * January 21
 * February 24
 * August 23

2013
2 Islamists killed in drone attack including senior al-Shabaab leader Ibrahim Ali Abdi.
 * October 28

2014
US drones and conventional aircraft target al-Shabaab encampments and vehicles. Leader Ahmed Abdi Godane was killed in the strike. US drone strike kills senior leader of al-Shabaab known as Abdishakur, the group's intelligence chief.
 * September 1
 * December 29

2015
45-60 al-Shabaab members are reported killed in a US drone strike in Lower Shabelle, after explosions rock a training camp, a house, and several armored vehicles. The U.S. denies its involvement in the strikes. It is the most lethal American attack in Somalia against radical Islamists to date.
 * January 31

In a second strike, senior al-Shabaab leader Yusef Dheeq and an associate are killed while riding in a vehicle. US drones target two al-Shabaab training camps. Senior member of al-Shabaab and suspect in the Kenya mall attack Adan Garaar is killed in drone strike that destroyed two vehicles. Drone strikes in Baardheere. US strike targets an al-Shabaab base in southern Somalia. Either Kenyan or American planes bomb 3 villages in central Hiraan. Senior al-Shabaab fighter Abdirahman Sandhere killed in airstrike. al-Shabaab leader Abu Ubaidah killed in drone strike.
 * March 10
 * March 12
 * July 15–18
 * November 22
 * November 29
 * December 2
 * December 22

2016
A massive U.S. airstrike involving multiple aircraft, manned and unmanned, targeted a training camp near the town of Raso in central Somalia killing an estimated 150 al-Shabaab militants. According to U.S. military officials, the American warplanes struck a large gathering of fighters as they were massing in preparation for an attack. US helicopter assist Somali Special Forces who had attacked an al-Shabaab target in southern Somalia. US drone strike target 3 al-Shabaab vehicles in southern Somalia. US airstrikes against al-Shabaab militants. 2 US strikes leave 6 people killed in southern Somalia. US drone strike in Jillib leaves 8 people dead. US drone strike attacks an al-Shabaab camp in southern Somalia killing 12 militants. The United States, alongside Kenyan and Somali forces, conducted a raid in Toratorow. It is reported that helicopters were also used in the raid. US airstrike kills 5 al-Shabaab members. Senior al-Shabaab leader Abdullahi Haji Daud killed in drone strike. Reportedly, US jets struck al Shabaab targets in the northern autonomous region of Puntland. 3 al-Shabaab members killed in drone strike. Two militants are killed in drone strike near Gobanale. Four militants are killed near the town of Tortoroow, in two "self-defense" strikes. U.S. officials say four al-Shabaab fighters were killed by airstrikes after they attacked a joint U.S.-Somali force near Kismayo. U.S. aircraft mistakenly target local militia members in the Puntland region, killing at least 22 Galmudug soldiers, as well as some Islamist fighters. The strike led to demonstrations in Galkayo that saw protesters burn the American flag.
 * March 5
 * March 8
 * March 31
 * April 1
 * April 2
 * April 6
 * April 11
 * May 9–10
 * May 12
 * May 27
 * June 11
 * June 21
 * August 30
 * September 5
 * September 26
 * September 28

2017
US forces conducted a self defense strike against AL-Shabaab militants in Gaduud. No fatalities A US service member was killed and 2 others wounded during a raid in Barii US precision strike kills 8 Al-Shabaab militants in Southern Somalia US airstrike killed 1 Al-Shabaab militant in Lower Shabelle region US forces conducted a self defense strike 300 miles Southwest of Mogadishu killing 13 Al-Shabaab militants. US kinetic strike killed 1 Al-Shabaab fighter later identified as Ali Muhammad in Southern Somalia. US forces conducted two kinetic strikes killing unknown Us forces conducted three precision strikes killing 7 Al-Shabaab militants 200 miles Southwest of Mogadishu US precision strike kills three Al-Shabaab militants in Central Somalia Precision strike kills one Al-Shabbab militant Three precision airstrikes kill 6 Al-Shabaab militants in Southern Somalia Up to 20 ISIS fighters killed by airstrike in Northeastern Somalia Several Al-Shabaab militants killed by an airstrike in Southern Somalia US airstrike killed up to 13 Al-Shabaab militants according to Somali official in Lower Shabelle One Al-Shabaab fighter killed by airstrike near Gaduud Several Al-Shabaab militants killed by airstrike 60 miles Northwest of Mogadishu Airstrikes killed up to 40 militants US airstrike targeting an Al-Shabaab training camp kills 100+ militants 125 miles Northwest of Mogadishu One ISIS fighter killed by airstrike Airstrike destroys vehicle-borne improvised explosive device 65 kilometers Southwest of Mogadishu Airstrike kills 8 Al-Shabaab fighters 30 miles Northwest of Mogadishu Airstrike in Southern Somalia kills 13 Al-Shabaab militants Airstrike kills four Al-Shabaab militants and destroys one vehicle-borne improvised explosive device 25 kilometers West of Mogadishu
 * January 7
 * May 5
 * June 11
 * July 2
 * July 4
 * July 30
 * August 10
 * August 16–17
 * September 5
 * September 7
 * September 13
 * November 3
 * November 9
 * November 10
 * November 11
 * November 14
 * November 9–14
 * November 21
 * November 27
 * December 12
 * December 15
 * December 24
 * December 27

2018
Airstrike killed two Al-Shabaab militants and destroyed one vehicle-borne explosive 50 kilometers West of Mogadishu Airstrike kills four Al-Shabaab militants 50 kilometers Northwest of Kismayo Airstrike kills three Al-Shabaab militants in Jilib Airstrike kills five Al-Shabaab militants in Jamaame Airstrike killed two Al-Shabaab militants and wounded one in Jilib Airstrike in Jamecco killed 12 Al-Shabaab militants and injured 15. Airstrike against Al-Shabaab militants killed two, wounded three and destroyed one vehicle in near Mubaarak Airstrike kills 5 Al-Shabaab militants and destroys 1 vehicle near El Burr Airstrike near jilib kills three Al-Shabaab militants and destroyed one vehicle Airstrike destroyed an Al-Shabaab vehicle-borne explosive device near Jana Cabdalle Airstrike kills 10 Al-Shabaab militants 15 miles Southwest of Mogadishu Airstrike killed 12 Al-Shabaab militants 30 miles Southeast of Mogadishu Airstrike killed 27 Al-Shabaab militants 26 miles Southwest of Bosasso One US soldier killed, four wounded, one partner force wounded in attack in Jubaland Four Al-Shabaab militants killed by airstrike 74 miles Northwest of Mogadishu Airstrike killed two Al-Shabaab militants 46 kilometers Northeast of Kismayo Three Al-Shabaab militants killed by airstrike 40 kilometers Southwest of Mogadishu Two Al-Shabaab militants killed and one wounded by airstrike in Mubaraak Airstrike killed 18 Al-Shabaab militants 50 kilometers Northwest of Kismayo Nine Al-Shabaab militants killed and one wounded by airstrike 40 kilometers Northwest of Kismayo Airstrike kills one Al-Shabaab militant in Kunyo Barrow Airstrike in Harardere killed 60 Al-Shabaab militants Self-defense strike killed four Al-Shabaab militants in Araara Airstrike killed two militants and wounded one in Kunyo Barrow Self-defense strike killed four Al-Shabaab militants in Araara Two airstrikes kill 37 Al-Shabaab militants and destroy one training camp in Debatscile Airstrike in Quy Cad killed 7 Al-Shabaab militants Airstrike in Haradere kills 6 Al-Shabaab militants Airstrike in Debatscile kills three Al-Shabaab militants Airstrike kills 9 Al-Shabaab militants near Lebede Airstrike kills four Al-Shabaab militants in Awdheegle self-defense strike kills four Al-Shabaab militants in Basra Four airstrikes in Gandarshe killed 34 Al-Shabaab militants Two airstrikes in Gandarshe kill 28 Al-Shabaab militants Two airstrikes in Beled Amin kill 11 Al-Shabaab militants
 * January 2
 * January 18
 * February 19
 * February 21
 * February 26
 * March 13
 * March 19
 * April 1
 * April 5
 * April 11
 * May 23
 * May 31
 * June 2
 * June 8
 * August 2
 * August 21
 * August 27
 * September 11
 * September 21
 * October 1
 * October 6
 * October 12
 * October 14
 * October 25
 * November 3
 * November 19
 * November 20
 * November 21
 * November 27
 * November 30
 * December 4
 * December 9
 * December 15
 * December 16
 * December 19

2019
Airstrike killed 10 Al-Shabaab militants in Dheerow Sanle Two self-defense strikes killed 4 Al-Shabaab militants in Baqdaad Airstrike killed six Al-Shabaab militants and destroyed one vehicle in Yaaq Braawe, Bay Region Airstrike targeted a large group of Al-Shabaab fighters attacking Somali National Army troops near Jilib killing 52 militants Two airstrikes were conducted in Jilib with at least one Al-Shabaab militant killed. Africa Command also announced that it would no longer release casualty details from its operations
 * January 2
 * January 7
 * January 8
 * January 19 
 * January 23