US Escalates Bombing in Somalia Under Trump, Lacking Media Coverage

Escalation of Airstrikes in Somalia

• ⚡ The US is bombing Somalia at a faster rate in 2025 than ever before, with a shocking lack of media attention.
• 🎯 The current iteration of the US intervention in Somalia began after 9/11 as part of the "war on terror."
• 📈 The US has bombed Somalia at least 51 times in 2025, nearing the record of 63 set by Trump in 2019.

Historical Context and Conflict Roots

• 🗺️ The US intervention in Somalia is one of its longest wars, with roots tracing back to the 1990s and the "Black Hawk Down" incident.
• 🤝 In the early 2000s, the US backed brutal warlords, who falsely accused opponents of being al-Qaeda.
• 🇪🇹 In 2006, Ethiopia, backed by US air power, invaded Somalia to oust the Islamic Courts Union, leading to the formation of al-Shabaab.
• ⚔️ Al-Shabaab, the radical offshoot of the Islamic Courts Union, began attacking Ethiopian troops, and the US subsequently backed the new government in Mogadishu against them.

Lack of Transparency and Civilian Harm

• 🚫 US officials have shown a lack of transparency regarding civilian casualties, with AFRICOM ceasing to release figures on civilian harm.
• ⚠️ Nick Tur of The Intercept has previously exposed US airstrikes in Somalia that have killed civilians.
• ✈️ The Trump administration has significantly ramped up air wars without transparency, including a heavy bombing campaign in Yemen that killed over 250 civilians in a month and a half.

Geopolitical Implications and Failed Counterterrorism

• 🌍 The conflict in Somalia is occurring amidst a power struggle in Africa involving Russia, China, and the United States.
• 📉 Counterterrorism efforts in Africa have been a complete failure, with terrorism by groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS affiliates exploding across the continent.
• 💰 The war in Somalia may be feeding the military-industrial complex, ensuring a continued drone war and fueling the post-9/11 machine.
• ❓ The US-backed Somali special military force, the DANAB, has been plagued by corruption, mirroring issues seen in Afghanistan.

Potential for Diplomacy and Future Outlook

• 🕊️ Some experts and UN special rapporteurs suggest there is no military solution and that the government must engage diplomatically with al-Shabaab.
• 📉 Despite rumors of talks between the US and al-Shabaab, the US has continued to prop up the fractured Somali government.
• 🌍 Somalia's strategic location on the Horn of Africa ensures it will likely remain a battleground.
• 💡 The root cause of immigration from Somalia is linked to US foreign policy, which involves bombing the country and installing puppet regimes.