Somalia Confirms First Turkish F-16 Combat Mission, Says 35 Al-Shabaab Fighters Killed
Somalia has confirmed that Turkish F-16 fighter jets carried out their first combat mission inside the country, killing 35 Al-Shabaab fighters during coordinated airstrikes in the Lower Shabelle region, according to the Ministry of Defence.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Somalia has confirmed that Türkiye’s F-16 fighter jets have carried out their first known combat mission inside the country, marking a significant escalation in military cooperation between Mogadishu and Ankara.
In a statement released Tuesday, Somalia’s Ministry of Defence said the Somali National Armed Forces, working alongside the Turkish Armed Forces, launched coordinated F-16 airstrikes against Al-Shabaab positions in the Godey area of Lower Shabelle.
According to the ministry, approximately 35 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed, while more than 20 others sustained serious injuries during the operation.
The airstrikes targeted caves, weapons depots, ammunition storage sites, and hideouts allegedly used by the militant group.
The ministry said the strikes triggered a series of large secondary explosions, indicating that the targeted location contained significant stockpiles of weapons, explosives, and military supplies.
Officials also said militants and vehicles loaded with explosives were present at the site and were preparing attacks against Somali civilians.
“The Somali National Armed Forces, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Türkiye, conducted a series of airstrikes this morning using F-16 fighter aircraft in the Godey area of Lower Shabelle,” the ministry said.
It described the operation as another step in the government’s ongoing military campaign to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s operational infrastructure.
The announcement represents the first official confirmation that Turkish F-16 fighter jets have participated directly in combat operations inside Somalia since Ankara deployed the aircraft to Mogadishu earlier this year.
In February, Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi confirmed that Turkish F-16s had arrived in Somalia and would be integrated into military operations against Al-Shabaab. At the time, the fighter jets conducted highly visible low-altitude flights over Mogadishu, signaling a new phase in Turkey’s military support.
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Turkey already operates its largest overseas military training base, TURKSOM, in Mogadishu, where thousands of Somali soldiers have received training over the past decade.
Beyond military training, Ankara has expanded its security cooperation through drone operations, naval deployments protecting Somalia’s offshore energy projects, intelligence sharing, and logistical support.
The latest operation comes as Somalia intensifies efforts to weaken Al-Shabaab following months of renewed offensives across southern and central regions.
The Ministry of Defence thanked Türkiye and Somalia’s other international partners for their continued support in counterterrorism operations.
“The Ministry of Defence and the Command of the Somali National Armed Forces reaffirm their unwavering commitment to continuing operations targeting Al-Shabaab leaders and militants until the threat they pose to the Somali people is completely eliminated,” the statement said.
Al-Shabaab has not publicly commented on the government’s claims.
The confirmed use of Turkish F-16s is expected to draw renewed regional attention. Earlier this year, analysts warned that deploying advanced fighter aircraft in Somalia could reshape the security balance in the Horn of Africa, particularly as geopolitical competition intensifies in the Red Sea region.
Supporters argue the aircraft provide Somalia with a significant boost in precision-strike capability against militant targets. Critics, however, have cautioned that increasing foreign military involvement could heighten regional rivalries and deepen external competition over Somalia’s strategic location.
Tuesday’s operation nevertheless marks a historic milestone in Somalia-Türkiye defence cooperation, with Turkish fighter aircraft now officially participating in frontline combat against Al-Shabaab.
About the Author
Fatuma Taxadar Yusuf is the Editor-in-Chief of the Somali Report and a Somali journalist with over a decade of experience in broadcasting and editorial leadership. She has worked with the BBC World Service and other leading media outlets in Somalia. She is also the Deputy Chair of the Somalia Media Council, the independent body regulating media standards and professional conduct in Somalia.