, working with the Turkish Armed Forces, carried out multiple airstrikes using Turkish F-16 fighter jets targetting Al-Shabab. Read.){kind=link}
By Staff Writer | Borkena
NAIROBI, Kenya — Somalia’s Ministry of Defense says the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF), working with the Turkish Armed Forces, carried out multiple airstrikes using Turkish F-16 fighter jets in the Godey area of the Lower Shabelle region on Tuesday.
The strikes targeted Al-Shabaab caves, weapons storage sites, and hiding areas.
In a statement issued on June 30, the ministry said the operation “eliminated about 35 Al-Shabaab terrorists,” while “over 20 others were seriously injured.”
The strikes focused on “caves, weapon caches, and hideouts used by Al-Shabaab terrorists.” The ministry said the attacks triggered “several large secondary explosions,” indicating the presence of “weapons, explosives, and other military supplies.”
It also claimed the site contained militants and vehicles “filled with explosives ready for use in attacks against Somali civilians.”
The operation is one of the clearest public reports of the use of Turkish F-16s in Somalia.
Reports that Turkey had deployed fighter jets first emerged in late January 2026, when Turkish officials told AFP—without being named—that F-16 aircraft had been sent to Somalia and would be controlled by Turkish military personnel stationed there, as Ankara increased its military presence in the Horn of Africa.
The deployment was later confirmed in April after months of upgrades at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport, including the construction of hangars and maintenance facilities for the aircraft.
The move marked a significant step in Turkey’s military assistance to Somalia as it seeks to strengthen government control and intensify operations against Al-Shabaab.
Turkey has become one of Somalia’s most important security partners, providing extensive military training, equipment, and economic support as the government continues its fight against the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group.
The Ministry of Defense thanked Somalia’s international partners for their continued support, saying it “appreciates the continued support from Somalia’s international partners in fighting against and eradicating terrorism.” It also said the Somali National Armed Forces “reaffirm their strong commitment to continue fighting Al-Shabaab leaders and militants until the threat they pose to the Somali people is completely eliminated.”
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