According to an AFRICOM press release, the strike took place in the Sanaag region, approximately 80 kilometers southwest of the city of Bosaso.

AFRICOM stated that the operation was carried out in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali National Army, with the aim of degrading Al-Shabaab’s ability to threaten U.S. forces and citizens abroad.

The U.S. command also stated that details regarding the specific forces and aircraft used in the strike would not be disclosed, citing operational security.

However, the U.S. did not report any casualties resulting from the operation, consistent with its policy of not disclosing casualty figures from its operations.

Puntland had previously claimed that the operation was conducted in cooperation with its own security agencies, although the U.S. has now stated that it coordinated with the Federal Government of Somalia.

For over a year, the U.S. has been consistently supporting Puntland in the fight against ISIS.

General Mahad recounted that the incident occurred at night while he was asleep; he woke up after hearing a massive explosion and seeing an aircraft passing overhead.

According to him, two missiles struck the house, with one hitting the specific section where he was sleeping. He reported that the building sustained extensive damage, with walls, the roof, and other structural parts suffering significant destruction.

“One missile hit me, and then another followed. Both missiles struck the spot where I was sleeping,” General Mahad said, noting that he sustained injuries from shrapnel caused by the explosion.

General Mahad stated that following the attack, he and others present at the scene evacuated the house, and the injured were transported to the Doolow district hospital. He mentioned that local security forces and officials rushed to assist, and he received medical treatment at the hospital that same night. He stated that at daybreak, he saw the house where he had been staying and noted that it had sustained severe damage, with destruction extending to other parts of the property and the surrounding area.

In another part of the interview, General Mahad discussed events that preceded the airstrike. He mentioned sensing unusual behavior among some of the people around him, noting that he had observed an individual repeatedly making phone calls from certain locations.

He also stated that some of his associates subsequently left the area, while others traveled to Baidoa and Mogadishu.

General Mahad recounted holding various meetings and communications after arriving in Doolow, noting that these interactions raised suspicions in his mind regarding information being relayed to other parties.

However, General Mahad’s claims regarding the perpetrators of the airstrike and their connections to the individuals he suspected have not been independently verified.

General Mahad Abdirahman previously served as the Commander of the Somali Custodial Corps; regarding the Doolow airstrike, he stated that the attack occurred while he and others were present at the house. The Somali government has denied that the incident at General Shub’s house involved airstrikes, attributing it instead to explosives that were being prepared inside the home.

So far, there has been no official investigation independent of the claims made by both sides to verify what occurred in Doolow.

According to Reuters, the transition period begins in January 2027, giving the United Nations time to gradually scale back and conclude AUSSOM’s logistical support operations.

The United Nations, through the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), provides AUSSOM with critical services, including fuel, food, medical care, transport, communications, engineering, and aviation support.

However, the United States has stated that it will not continue funding UNSOS—which has an annual budget of nearly $500 million—without an alternative mechanism in place to fully replace the UN’s support.

AUSSOM was established to support Somalia’s security and stabilization efforts, with the United Nations continuing to provide logistical support for the mission. The United Nations Security Council has based the current mandate for AUSSOM and the UNSOS support package on Resolution 2809, setting an end date of December 31, 2026.

This new decision grants AUSSOM, Somalia, and troop-contributing countries additional time to prepare for the transition in the logistics support system.

However, it remains unclear how the extensive support system currently provided by UNSOS will be modified once the transition period concludes—a matter that could prove critical to the operational capacity of Somali forces and AUSSOM in countering Al-Shabaab.

Consequently, the U.S. decision affords the mission more time, but it does not constitute a permanent extension of United Nations support.

According to a preliminary statement issued by the Mogadishu Port Authority and Somalia’s Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport, the vessel was in the Mogadishu Port anchorage area when the incident occurred and transmitted an emergency signal reporting water ingress.

Port authorities instructed the vessel to weigh anchor, move away from the port area, and head north to mitigate risks to the ship itself and other vessels in the port.

The vessel subsequently ran aground at a location approximately 12 nautical miles north of Mogadishu.

The MV JACUAR had departed from the Port of Beira in Mozambique and was en route to the Port of Adabiya in Egypt. The vessel was carrying a cargo of copper cathodes and is owned by a Syrian company.

The crew consisted of 18 individuals from India, Syria, and Egypt. The Mogadishu Port Authority confirmed that all crew members survived; they were safely evacuated from the vessel and transported to Mogadishu by maritime police boats.

The Port Authority stated that the crew is currently in their care, with accommodation, food, and other essential services provided while arrangements are finalized for their repatriation. To safeguard the vessel and its cargo, maritime police boarded the MV JACUAR and have taken charge of its security.

The Port Authority also noted that access to the vessel has been restricted—with unauthorized boarding prohibited—to prevent risks to the ship, the cargo, and the site where it ran aground.

A statement from the Mogadishu Port Authority revealed that, to date, no marine pollution resulting from the incident has been reported or observed.

Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, pleaded guilty to the assault on Thursday, admitting that he had deliberately targeted the congresswoman during a public meeting in Minneapolis on January 27, 2026.

Kazmierczak admitted that the attack was motivated by political views opposing Ilhan Omar.

At the time of the incident, Kazmierczak—who was seated in the front row—suddenly lunged at the congresswoman and sprayed her with a liquid containing apple cider vinegar, which struck her clothing and skin.

Footage of the incident showed the man shouting “you need to resign” and accusing Ilhan of dividing the state of Minnesota.

Ilhan Omar’s security team quickly subdued Kazmierczak, and he was subsequently arrested by police. The congresswoman was not injured in the attack and continued with the public meeting.

Kazmierczak told the court that his memory of the events was incomplete. However, prosecutors stated that he had premeditated the attack and sent messages to at least three people before carrying it out.

Prosecutors also noted that he discussed the care of his dog with a neighbor and made arrangements regarding jail bail—actions they cited as indications that the attack was planned in advance.

“I apologize if I scared you,” he also wrote in a message sent to Ilhan Omar after the attack.

The prosecution stated that Kazmierczak had previously posted comments on social media attacking former President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party, while also expressing support for President Donald Trump.

U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen said the attack exemplifies what he described as a growing trend of individuals turning political hatred into criminal acts.

Ilhan Omar, a Somali-American, has recently featured prominently in U.S. political debates, particularly regarding immigration and border policy. The attack occurred at a time when Omar was openly opposing ICE—the immigration and law enforcement agency—and calling for the resignation of Trump administration officials whom she blamed for the handling of immigration operations in Minnesota.

The delegation was led by Abdiwali Ali Abdulle, Director General of Somalia’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), and included senior officials from NIRA, the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Somalia, and other financial and development institutions.

The visit was jointly organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) offices in Somalia and Pakistan.

During the program, Somali officials held meetings with Pakistani agencies working on digital identification, digital governance, social protection, taxation, digital payments, and citizen services.

The delegation also gained insights into Pakistan’s experience in ensuring that digital transformation is inclusive, secure, accountable, and grounded in human rights. For instance, the Senate of Pakistan’s transition to a paperless parliamentary system—known as “e-Parliament”—was showcased as a model. Abdiwali Ali Abdulle stated that the visit provided Somalia with an opportunity to benefit from Pakistan’s experience and identify approaches applicable to the Somali context.

He noted that Pakistan possesses significant expertise in digital identification, digital finance, social protection services, and systems interoperability. Conversely, he pointed out that Somalia has experience in mobile money and the rapid adoption of digital services, which could also offer valuable lessons for Pakistan.

Participants also endorsed the Somalia-Pakistan Cooperation Action Plan, which outlines the areas where the two sides will continue to collaborate.

The plan focuses on foundational and legal identification, digital infrastructure for public services and governance, systems interoperability, secure data exchange, financial inclusion, and digital public finance.

Jama Hassan, an advisor at the Somali Embassy in Pakistan, stated that the program provided Somalia with a crucial understanding of Pakistan’s identification system and its extensive e-government services. He emphasized that a functional identification system is not merely about numbers or databases; it is crucial to link identification systems with the public services that citizens require.

For his part, Dr. Samuel Rizk, the UNDP Resident Representative in Pakistan, stated that legal identity is the foundation of inclusive governance, as it facilitates access to government services, social protection, and financial opportunities.

Rizk noted that the partnership between the UNDP and Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has helped more than one million women obtain identification documents.

He stated that the visit by the Somali delegation provided an opportunity to share Pakistan’s experiences, particularly regarding technological development that fosters public trust, inclusive participation, and the protection of personal data.

According to a press release from the Puntland presidency, the operation targeted sites Al-Shabaab used to stockpile arms and ammunition intended to support the group’s operations and attacks within Somalia.

Puntland stated that the operation was carried out in coordination with its security agencies. No further details regarding the timing or method of the attack were disclosed.

This operation comes at a time when the United States has intensified military actions against terrorist groups operating in Somalia. In September 2026, AFRICOM confirmed airstrikes against Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia.

Puntland stated that the destruction of these weapons storage sites is part of efforts to weaken Al-Shabaab and disrupt the group’s supply lines and its capacity to plan and execute attacks.

Puntland noted that it had previously discussed with AFRICOM the strengthening of cooperation to combat Al-Shabaab and ISIS in the Al-Madow and Al-Miskaad mountains. She stated that this partnership is part of a long-standing effort to undermine Al-Shabaab’s power, prevent it from finding safe havens, and support stability in Puntland.

The repatriation primarily affects individuals who lack legal authorization to remain in Sweden, such as those whose asylum applications have been rejected or who have received a final deportation order.

This situation has impacted Somalis who have lived in Sweden for a long time, particularly those with protracted legal cases or disputes regarding the information used to determine their status.

Somalis facing repatriation argue that factors such as family circumstances, children residing in Sweden, and the duration of their stay in the country should be taken into account when their cases are evaluated.

One of the Somalis facing repatriation is Cabbaas Bashiir Shiikh Xuseen, who states that he has lived in Sweden for a long time, where he both worked and pursued his education.

Cabbaas reports that he is currently being held in a facility for individuals facing deportation and is scheduled to be returned to Somalia on the 22nd of this month. He stated that some of his children were born in Sweden, adding that he had lived and worked in the country for a long time.

Abbas noted that Swedish immigration authorities had been handling his case for nearly three years, while he has been held in a detention center for those facing deportation since October 2025.

He argued that incorrect information had been recorded in his file, which he claimed influenced the decision regarding his status. He stated that he had challenged this matter in court and possesses documents to support his case.

Abbas also mentioned that other Somalis held at the center include individuals who had lived in Sweden for a long time, with some having children and families residing in the country.

Abbas called on the Somali government to discuss his case with the Swedish government, particularly if the two sides are working on arrangements for his repatriation.

This call emerged from the organization’s Council of Foreign Ministers meeting held in Djibouti on Tuesday, according to a communiqué issued following the gathering.

The IGAD Council of Ministers urged Somali leaders and other political stakeholders to continue discussions aimed at achieving consensus on future elections.

The appeal comes amidst ongoing disagreements among the federal government, certain regional states, and opposition groups regarding the electoral model to be adopted.

The federal government advocates for a transition to a “one-person, one-vote” electoral system, whereas opposing factions insist that the electoral process be based on an inclusive political agreement.

IGAD also reiterated its support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia.

Regarding security, the organization called for sustainable and predictable funding to support the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), enabling it to continue fulfilling its security mandate.

The Hawadle community called for a halt to the ongoing elections and political processes in Hiiraan, stating that any process not founded on agreement and community consent is unacceptable—a position outlined in the resolutions of the conference led by Ugaas Yusuf Ugaas Hassan Ugaas Khalif.

The communiqué was read to the media by the former Secretary of the Banadir Regional Administration, Xiirey Ahmed Roble, who emphasized that the community cannot accept the implementation of a political process for Hiiraan that excludes the local population.

The Hawadle community further urged that the formation of the third HirShabelle administration follow an inclusive process based on justice, representation, and power-sharing arrangements agreed upon by all parties.

The statement also highlighted the grievances of the people of Hiiraan, with the community calling for these concerns to be taken seriously and for a political solution to be sought through consultation and mutual understanding. “All elections and processes not based on community consensus and agreement must be halted,” stated the resolutions emerging from the meeting.

The Hawadle community also called upon the HirShabelle administration operating in Hiiraan to abide by the decisions reached by community elders and to prepare for the process of establishing a new, inclusive administration.

Another point highlighted in the communiqué is that the electoral committee and its chairman, Abdikarim Hassan, will bear responsibility for any unrest or violence resulting from an election lacking consensus.

The Hawadle community asserted that a sustainable HirShabelle administration cannot be built while ignoring the grievances and aspirations of the people of Hiiraan.

Finally, the community urged that no more time be wasted and declared that the moment has arrived to establish an administration distinct from both the current and previous ones; the statement concluded by affirming that peace, justice, consensus, and a social contract form the foundation for Hiiraan and HirShabelle.