A coordinated operation between U.S. pilots and Somali Federal elements (Puntland Security Forces) targeted Islamic State Somalia (Abnaa ul-Calipha) militants near Timirshe, southeast of Bosaso, Somalia on 21 July.

Islamic State fighters had previously attacked security forces in the area, and this airstrike killed at least 7 militants. U.S. assets were on the ground to assist the Somali forces in targeting Islamic State forces. As such, in a face-saving gesture, Islamic State claims to have killed and wounded 7 Americans and Somali militiamen; however, US AFRICOM refuted those numbers, pointing out that Islamic State often traffics in lies and propaganda. Islamic State in Somalia – (Abnaa ul-Calipha) in the Bosaso area was the first al Shabaab faction to spin-off and pledge to Islamic State. Operating under Shaykh Abdulqadir Mumin, last estimates of the group’s strength stood at somewhere between 30-40 fighters. The airstrikes will take a toll on Abnaa ul-Calipha’s operations in Bosaso, but will unlikely affect operations in other areas of Somalia.