The U.S. Navy carried out the largest-ever airstrike from an aircraft carrier during operations in Somalia earlier this year, according to Admiral James Kilby, the acting chief of naval operations. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, Kilby revealed that the strike involved the deployment of 125,000 pounds (62.5 tons) of munitions from the USS Harry S. Truman, marking an unprecedented use of carrier-based firepower in modern warfare.
The massive bombing run, which took place on February 1, was executed by 16 F/A-18 Super Hornets and targeted suspected positions of Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab in Somalia. According to U.S. Africa Command, a total of 25 airstrikes have been launched in the country since January, as part of ongoing counterterrorism operations aimed at neutralizing militant networks in the region.
The Truman, deployed to the Middle East last autumn, played a central role in U.S. military strategy across multiple theaters before returning to its home port in Norfolk, Virginia. Prior to its departure from the Red Sea, the carrier strike group participated in efforts to secure maritime routes from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, launching 670 strikes and intercepting approximately 160 drones and missiles. Kilby emphasized the seriousness of the threat posed by the Houthis, noting that while they are not a global superpower like China, they are “actively hunting U.S. ships.”
However, the deployment was not without setbacks. In December, a U.S. warship in the strike group mistakenly shot down an American F/A-18 in what was described as a friendly fire incident. More mishaps followed in April, when both an F/A-18 and a tow tractor fell overboard from the carrier during an evasive maneuver. Earlier this month, the ship suffered another blow when an arresting cable failed during the landing of an F/A-18, sending the $60 million jet into the sea.
Despite these incidents, the record-setting airstrike underscores the expanding role of U.S. naval power in Africa and the broader Middle East. The unprecedented scale of the operation signals both a renewed focus on Somalia and the Navy’s evolving approach to power projection from sea-based platforms.
As the Harry S. Truman heads back to U.S. shores after NATO drills in the Mediterranean, questions remain about the long-term impact of such operations—and the risks that come with escalating military engagement in volatile regions.
