US Blows Up Flagless Vessel Carrying Weapons To Somali Terrorist Group

In a rare move, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) carried out airstrikes on April 16, 2025, targeting a stateless vessel and a smaller support craft suspected of smuggling advanced conventional weapons to the al-Shabaab terrorist group in Somalia.

The operation took place within Somalia’s territorial waters and was coordinated with the Federal Government of Somalia.

According to the official statement from AFRICOM, the weapons on board were en route to al-Shabaab militants and posed an immediate threat to US and partner forces in the region.

Al-Shabaab, a violent Islamic extremist group linked to al-Qaeda, has been engaged in a long-running insurgency against Somalia’s government.

Recently, experts have observed growing connections between al-Shahbaab and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, with both groups involved in regional arms smuggling networks.

AFRICOM stated that all individuals on both vessels were “neutralised” in the strike, and their initial assessment found no civilian casualties.

Specific details about the military units involved or the types of weapons used in the operation were not shared to maintain operational security.

The US officials involved in the planning told The War Zone that the decision to strike was made quickly due to the time-sensitive nature of the threat. There was no opportunity to send in a boarding team.

“They had to do things quickly. They did not have time to pull in boats,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

The strike was made possible by updated Pentagon policies, which now allow commanders more authority to act quickly in such situations.

These new guidelines are intended to shorten response times and increase the military’s effectiveness in high-stakes operations.

While smuggling of arms is common around the Horn of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula, ranging from small arms like AK-47s to advanced missile components, using airstrikes against smuggling vessels is highly unusual.

The US official stated that such an action has not happened in at least five years in the AFRICOM region, possibly longer.

Usually, the US uses non-lethal methods like boarding and inspection operations to deal with suspected arms trafficking at sea. These missions are often handled by US Coast Guard units trained in law enforcement operations.

The use of airpower against maritime targets is considered a last resort, used only when there is no other option left.

Al-Shabaab has been making advances closer to the capital, Mogadishu. Earlier this week, Turkey sent 500 troops to support Somali forces in the capital.

Around the same time, AFRICOM resumed airstrikes on al-Shabaab’s remote positions.

Last year, two US Navy SEALs- Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers and Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram-tragically died during an operation to board a vessel carrying Iranian-made missile components to the Houthis in Yemen.

During that mission in the Arabian Sea, Chambers fell into the gap between boats due to rough waves, and Ingram jumped in to save him. Both brave men were lost at sea.

Reference: US Africa Command

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