AFRICOM Struck al-Shabaab Near Qumbi, Somalia

SOMALIA — On September 28, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Public Affairs stated that U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on September 24 targeting al-Shabaab, which the United States designated a terrorist organization in 2008, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia.

The command placed the airstrikes in the vicinity of Qumbi, approximately 56 miles (90 km) north-northwest of Kismayo in southern Somalia, withheld units and assets citing operations security, and published no battle-damage result, no casualty figure, and no time of day for the strikes.

Location

Qumbi vicinity, Lower Juba, Somalia, approximately 56 miles (90 km) north-northwest of Kismayo.

Published geographic listings for Kismayo give the city at -0.35817, 42.54536. An approximate strike point of 0.39, 42.24 is derived from the command’s stated 90 km north-northwest bearing from that city, because AFRICOM did not release coordinates.

AFRICOM released no coordinates, and the “vicinity” wording does not fix a point.

Qumbi lies inland of the Kismayo port and airfield belt in Jubaland, the regional administration whose capital is Kismayo, where AFRICOM’s strike table also lists earlier al-Shabaab entries at nearby distances.

What Happened

• On September 28, AFRICOM Public Affairs stated that U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on September 24 targeting al-Shabaab in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia.

• The command placed the strikes in the vicinity of Qumbi, approximately 56 miles (90 km) north-northwest of Kismayo, and withheld units and assets for operations security.

• AFRICOM’s strike table records the September 24 Qumbi entry against al-Shabaab, lists six September strikes, and gives a year-to-date total of 84.

• Neither the Somali Ministry of Defense nor Villa Somalia had published a statement naming the September 24 Qumbi airstrikes by September 29.

• The Jubaland presidency, the regional authority seated at Kismayo, had published no statement naming those strikes by September 29.

Official Statements

• U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs, September 28: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab on Sep. 24, 2026. The airstrikes occurred in the vicinity of Qumbi, approximately 90 km north, northwest of Kismayo. AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade al-Shabaab’s ability to threaten U.S. forces and our citizens abroad. Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security.”

• Somali Ministry of Defense, September 28: “The Somali Armed Forces this morning inflicted a major defeat on Al-Shabaab terrorists and militias loyal to Laftagareen, which have merged, after they launched an attack on Baidoa that began with explosions. The Armed Forces bravely repelled the attack, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers. They remain in full control of the city and are pursuing the fleeing militants. The allied terrorist militias fled, abandoning their dead and wounded. Further details will be released in due course.”