Overview
- Turkish officials confirmed F-16 fighter jets have been deployed to Somalia and said the aircraft will be flown by Turkish personnel rather than transferred to Somali forces.
- Social media videos purport to show low-flying F-16s and a takeoff in Mogadishu, but the date and authenticity of the footage have not been independently verified.
- Reporting cited by The War Zone says three F-16s arrived on January 28 at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde airport with two helicopters, and there has been no confirmation of strikes by the jets.
- U.S. Africa Command reports 23 air strikes in Somalia since January 1 targeting Al‑Shabaab and ISIS‑Somalia, reflecting a sustained escalation under President Donald Trump.
- Turkey has operated its largest overseas base in Mogadishu since 2017 and describes its mission as training and counter‑terrorism cooperation, with the latest move following tensions tied to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.