US military seeks cultural advisors in Somalia amid regional strikes

The U.S. special operations task force in Somalia is seeking three cultural and political advisors to support missions amid a 75% force reduction in the region over the past decade. Despite the drawdown, the U.S. conducted 124 airstrikes against militants in Somalia in 2025, up from 10 in 2024, while intelligence gaps have worsened due to reduced troop presence.