Turkey has deployed F-16 fighter jets and attack helicopters to Somalia, as Ankara steps up action against the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab.
According to reports, three Turkish F-16 jets were stationed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, where Turkey has been building infrastructure to host the aircraft, including new hangars and support facilities.
Turkish engineers worked on preparations in the weeks leading up to the deployment.
The jets are intended to support intensified strikes on al-Shabaab militants and amplify Somalia’s security capabilities, complementing existing Turkish military assets already in the country, such as attack helicopters, Bayraktar TB2 drones and other aerial platforms supplied as part of defence cooperation agreements.
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Turkey’s expanded military role in Somalia is part of a partnership that has grown in recent years, including training Somali forces, hosting a major Turkish military training base (Turksom) in Mogadishu, and participating in joint counter-terrorism efforts.
The deployment comes amid heightened regional tensions and increased concern over the ongoing threat posed by al-Shabaab, which continues to carry out attacks and control territory in rural parts of Somalia.
The deployment of F-16s points to Ankara’s interest in safeguarding its investments and influence in the region — a dynamic that has drawn attention from other international actors engaged in East Africa’s safety engagements.
