The United States military has confirmed conducting an airstrike against Al-Shabaab militants near Bullo Xajji, a strategic village located approximately 80 kilometers west of Kismayo, southern Somalia, on June 16, 2025.
In a statement released Tuesday, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) acknowledged the operation but withheld casualty figures, citing the sensitivity of “ongoing security operations.”
Local sources indicated that Somali authorities are still working to identify the targets affected in the strike.
Bullo Xajji holds historical importance in the region. In 2010, it was the site of a now-defunct agreement between Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab and the former Islamist group Hizbul Islam.