MOGADISHU: The government of Somalia´s semi-autonomous Puntland region said on Sunday that US military strikes in the Golis mountains had killed “key figures” in the Islamic State group.

US President Donald Trump announced the air strike late on Saturday, posting on the Truth Social platform that he had ordered “precision military air strikes on the senior ISIS attack planner and other terrorists” in Somalia.

IS has a relatively small presence in Somalia compared to the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab, but experts have warned of growing activity.

The strikes were carried out in a northern region of Somalia, where the Puntland Defence Forces have been carrying out operations against IS since December.