U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced that on September 13, 2025, it carried out an airstrike near the town of Badhan in the Sanaag region, claiming to have targeted an arms dealer linked to al-Shabaab.
In a statement, AFRICOM said the strike was conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia and was part of ongoing efforts to weaken al-Shabaab’s capabilities.
However, local residents and Puntland officials confirmed that the strike killed a well-known traditional elder in the region, sparking anger and controversy.
AFRICOM stated that it would not disclose further details about the units or assets involved due to operational security concerns, but the incident has raised serious questions and public outcry over how the elder was identified as an al-Shabaab arms dealer.
