11:20 AM12/28/2020

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group has been providing operational and close air support to Joint Task Force – Quartz and Operation Octave Quartz. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group arrived to support operations in Somalia Dec. 21.

5:50 PM12/24/2020

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted one (1) airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab compound in the vicinity of Saakow, Somalia, on Dec. 24, 2020.

1:59 PM12/22/2020

201218-M-UY835-1052 INDIAN OCEAN (Dec. 18, 2020) – U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island. The F-35Bs provide close air support to Operation OCTAVE QUARTZ. The mission of OOQ is to reposition U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces.

1:54 PM12/22/2020

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of USS Makin Island (LHD8), USS Somerset (LPD 25), USS San Diego (LPD 22), and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit; and USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) conduct maritime operations off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ). The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa.

1:45 PM12/22/2020

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of USS Makin Island (LHD8), USS Somerset (LPD 25), USS San Diego (LPD 22), and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit; and USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) conduct maritime operations off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ). The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa.

1:26 PM12/22/2020

201219-N-LR905-1556 INDIAN OCEAN (Dec. 19, 2020) – A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (Reinforced) 164, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). Makin Island, flagship of the Amphibious Ready Group, along with the 15th MEU conduct operations under Joint Task Force – Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz. The mission of OOQ is to reposition U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces.

1:21 PM12/22/2020

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of USS Makin Island (LHD8), USS Somerset (LPD 25), USS San Diego (LPD 22), and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit; and USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) conduct maritime operations off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ). The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa.

11:55 AM12/22/2020

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived off the coast of Somalia as part of the Joint Forces Maritime Component Command for Joint Task Force - Quartz, Dec. 21.

11:55 AM12/22/2020

201218-M-UY835-1052 INDIAN OCEAN (Dec. 18, 2020) – U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). The F-35Bs provide close air support to Operation OCTAVE QUARTZ. The mission of OOQ is to reposition U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces.

9:28 AM12/19/2020

U.S. Africa Command Commander, U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend directed the formation of Joint Task Force- Quartz to oversee Operation Octave Quartz, a mission designated to reposition forces from Somalia.

3:56 PM12/11/2020

This video shows a precision air strike on the location of a known al-Shabaab explosives network leader near Jilib around 1 p.m. local time, Dec. 10, 2020. Initial assessments show the operation killed 8 and wounded 2 terrorists.

3:41 PM12/11/2020

Muuqaalkaan/fiidiyoowgaan waxaa uu ku saabsanayahay duqeeyn lala beeganayo meel lagu ogyahay madaxa al-Shabaab uqaabilsan walxaha qarxa oo u dhow Jilib qiyaastii saacadu markay tahay 1 p.m. sagaalka subaxnimo Dec. 10, 2020.

3:23 PM12/11/2020

U.S. Africa Command has released airstrike video highlighting the impact of the airstrikes conducted on Dec. 10, 2020, that killed eight (8) al-Shabaab explosives experts in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia.

1:50 PM12/10/2020

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted two (2) airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab explosives experts in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, on Dec. 10, 2020.

5:00 PM11/27/2020

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command, was joined by acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller on a multi-day trip Nov. 25-27 to Djibouti and Somalia.

8:25 AM9/26/2020

The trip, which included stops in Somalia, Djibouti, Chad and Niger, demonstrated AFRICOM’s whole of government approach in Africa.

6:21 PM9/8/2020

U.S. Africa Command officials released the identity of the senior Al-Shabaab leader killed in an Aug. 25 airstrike in Somalia as the terrorist known as Abdulqadir Commandos.

1:24 PM9/8/2020

10:52 AM9/3/2020

A Somali Soldier assigned to the 3rd DANAB maintains a watchful eye during a short security halt a on patrol near the town of Wanla Weyn, Somalia, July 22, 2019. The DANAB are a highly trained Somali National Army infantry commando force, named after the Somali word for lightning.