At Least 60 ISIS Militants Killed in Somalia’s Puntland State

GOOBJOOG NEWS | GAROWE: Puntland State forces have killed at least 60 ISIS militants in a coordinated offensive targeting their hideouts in the Cal-Miskaad mountains of the Bari region.

Puntland Military Spokesman General Mohamoud Fadhigo confirmed that the operation, which involved both air and ground assaults, struck key militant bases in the mountainous terrain.

“The operation against the terrorist group is ongoing. In the latest engagement near the Hararyo area, between 60 and 65 fighters were eliminated,” General Fadhigo stated, adding that additional casualties may still be unaccounted for.

According to Fadhigo, the ISIS militants had attempted a large-scale assault on Puntland military bases overnight using suicide bombers on foot, motorcycles, and cars. However, government forces repelled the attack, launching retaliatory airstrikes that inflicted heavy losses on the insurgents.

In December, Puntland launched a major offensive against both ISIS and its rival Islamist faction, the al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab. Since then, security forces have killed dozens of foreign fighters, captured multiple IS strongholds, and forced a senior militant commander to surrender.

“Puntland’s anti-terrorism units had prior intelligence on the attack and swiftly neutralized the suicide bombers before they could reach their targets,” Fadhigo said.

The operation was bolstered by air support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key partner in Somalia’s security efforts. “With the help of UAE airstrikes, we also overwhelmed ISIS ground forces, killing approximately 70 militants,” Fadhigo added.

While Puntland forces suffered casualties in the battle, officials declined to disclose the exact figures.

ISIS’s Somali faction, which has an estimated 700 to 1,500 fighters, has expanded in recent years due to an influx of foreign combatants and increased financial resources. Despite this growth, it remains significantly smaller than Al-Shabaab, which continues to control vast territories in southern and central Somalia.

Additional reporting by agencies.