
Friday January 3, 2025

Garowe (HOL) – Puntland regional state has airlifted
soldiers wounded in Tuesday's Islamic State (ISIS) suicide attack in the Bari
region to Ethiopia for urgent medical treatment.
The transfer follows a request by Puntland authorities to
the Ethiopian government for support, as local hospitals were unable to manage
the severity of the soldiers’ injuries.
The seriously injured soldiers were flown to Ethiopia on
Thursday, with Puntland officials expressing gratitude to Addis Ababa for its
prompt assistance. They described the gesture as a testament to the cooperation
and friendship between the regional state and Ethiopia.
Tuesday's attack on a military base in northeastern Puntland
claimed the lives of over 20 individuals, primarily Puntland soldiers, and
injured more than 30 others. The assault coincided with a visit by the deputy
speaker of Puntland's parliament to the base.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that 12
militants and two explosive-laden vehicles were involved. The group claimed to
have killed 22 Puntland military personnel and injured dozens.
ISIS has maintained a presence in Puntland's mountainous
regions since being officially recognized as the Somali province of the Islamic
State in 2017. While the group has been considered a smaller security threat
compared to al-Shabaab, its recent actions highlight its continued capacity for
violence in the Horn of Africa.