Thursday February 20, 2025
Puntland security forces patrol a remote area in the Al-Miskaad Mountains following a large-scale counterterrorism operation against ISIS militants. The offensive, backed by UAE airstrikes, resulted in the deaths of 44 fighters and the recapture of key insurgent hideouts.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Puntland security forces, backed by airstrikes from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have killed at least 44 ISIS militants in a large-scale counterterrorism operation targeting insurgent hideouts in the Al-Miskaad Mountains, Puntland authorities confirmed Thursday.
The offensive, part of Puntland's ongoing Hillaac campaign, involved coordinated ground assaults and aerial bombardments aimed at dismantling ISIS's presence in the Togga-Jecel region, where the group has maintained a foothold for several years.
Puntland forces launched a ground operation in the Al-Miskaad Mountains, engaging in a three-hour battle with ISIS fighters before seizing control of the villages of Dhaqas, Qurac, and Damdamale. At least 15 militants were killed, including foreign fighters, officials said.
"These areas had been used as operational bases by ISIS for years," a Puntland security official told Hiiraan Online on condition of anonymity. "The military has now disrupted their activities and will continue pursuing any remaining fighters."
In parallel, UAE warplanes carried out two airstrikes, killing 29 ISIS fighters in the region. The first strike near the village of Damdamale eliminated 22 militants, while the second targeted a group of fighters in Togga-Jecel, killing seven others.
"The coordination between Puntland security forces and international partners is yielding significant results in dismantling terrorist networks," Puntland authorities said.
Puntland vowed to sustain its military campaign until ISIS is fully eradicated from the region.
"Our operations will continue until the terrorists are eliminated," the government statement said. "We are targeting their safe havens, cutting off their supply lines, and ensuring they can no longer pose a threat."
ISIS has maintained a presence in Puntland's mountains since splintering from Al-Shabaab in 2015. The group has been involved in assassinations, extortion, and attacks against security forces, particularly in northeastern Somalia.