Addis Ababa; Puntland security forces, in a joint operation with the United Arab Emirates and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), have carried out a military offensive against Islamic State (ISIS) fighters in the mountainous Al Miskaad area of Puntland, Somalia, authorities said.
According to Puntland authorities, the operation resulted in significant losses for the militant group, with more than 50 suspected ISIS members captured.
Puntland’s Counter-Terrorism Operations command said that more than half of those detained are Ethiopian nationals, while others were identified as nationals of Yemen, Tanzania, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Syria. The command publicly thanked the UAE and AFRICOM for supporting Puntland security forces during the operation.
The Al Miskaad mountain range has long been considered a stronghold for both Islamic State in Somalia (ISIS) and Al-Shabaab militants.
In 2024, Puntland launched a major campaign known as “Operation Arrow” against Islamic State fighters in the Bari region. Officials said the latest operation is the largest since that campaign and represents a continuation of efforts to dismantle militant networks in the area.
