The US Navy has confirmed it carried out the largest airstrike ever launched from an aircraft carrier, marking a significant show of force during operations in East Africa earlier this year.
Adm. James Kilby, acting chief of naval operations, said Monday that the USS Harry S. Truman and its carrier strike group dropped 125,000 pounds of bombs in a single mission over Somalia. He called it the largest airstrike ever conducted from one carrier.
A defense official told Business Insider the operation took place on Feb. 1 while the Truman was operating in the Red Sea. The strike involved around 16 F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets in a single coordinated bombing run.
According to US Africa Command, the airstrikes targeted senior ISIS-Somalia leaders hiding in a network of caves. Military assessments estimated that over a dozen militants were killed. Kilby’s recent comments offer a fuller picture of the strike’s unprecedented scale.
US forces have conducted dozens of airstrikes in Somalia this year against both ISIS and the al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabaab. Both groups are considered threats to U.S. interests by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Following the Somalia operation, the Truman strike group transitioned to NATO-led maritime exercises in the Mediterranean Sea. The group, which deployed in fall 2023, spent several months in the Middle East before beginning its return to Norfolk, Virginia.
During its deployment, the Truman strike group was a key player in US operations against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Kilby said the group intercepted 160 drones and missiles launched by the Houthis toward Israel, US Navy vessels, and key shipping lanes. He also reported 670 strikes against Houthi targets.
The USS Truman launched what the Navy calls the largest airstrike in history—dropping 125,000 lbs of munitions on Somalia. Meanwhile, it struck 1,000+ Houthi targets in Yemen before heading to the Med for NATO drills. Deployment extended amid ongoing tensions. pic.twitter.com/IGEL5XAlSy
— NTC Report (@NTC_Report) May 21, 2025
These missions involved a mix of precision-guided bombs and advanced missile systems. Multiple US carriers contributed to the effort, using large amounts of ordnance to counter persistent attacks from the Houthis.
Kilby emphasized the rising danger from the group. “They’re not China, but they are a threat,” he said. “And they are hunting our ships.”
The Truman’s deployment has also seen a series of high-profile incidents. In December, a warship in its group accidentally shot down a U.S. F/A-18 in what officials described as a case of friendly fire. The jet, worth about $60 million, was lost over the Red Sea.
In February, the Truman collided with a commercial ship in the Mediterranean, causing damage and leading to the dismissal of the carrier’s commanding officer.
Lame Duck. The USS Harry Truman is out of action after crashing into a commercial vessel then getting peppered with ballistic missiles from Yemen. The commander has been relieved of his duties. pic.twitter.com/Ytfu18G0lZ
— tim anderson (@timand2037) April 26, 2025
Two more accidents followed. In late April, an F/A-18 and a tow tractor fell into the Red Sea from the carrier’s hangar bay. A sailor escaped the jet just in time.
In early May, another F/A-18 went overboard after a failed landing when the arresting cables malfunctioned. Both aviators ejected safely and were recovered.
Despite setbacks, the strike group remains operational as it nears the end of its deployment.
