Tuesday March 25, 2025
Garowe (HOL) — At least one Puntland soldier was killed, and nine others were injured in an attack by ISIS militants in the Xabley area of Ufayn district, Bari region, on Monday night.
The attack, which took place in the Dhaban-Qooxle area of the Xabley mountains, began when militants targeted a Puntland forces base.
Puntland forces reportedly repelled the assault, killing an unknown number of ISIS militants in the fighting.
Preliminary reports indicate that the clashes lasted until dawn on Tuesday.
In recent days, Puntland forces have faced repeated ISIS attacks, with militants still hiding in the Calmiskaad mountains. A day earlier, ISIS detonated a roadside bomb targeting an ambulance and another vehicle carrying Puntland soldiers, causing casualties.
President Said Abdullahi Deni recently announced the third phase of military operations aimed at eliminating ISIS fighters. However, Puntland troops have yet to reach some of the group's strongholds.
Puntland has been engaged in long-running operations against ISIS-affiliated fighters in the mountainous Bari region, where the group has maintained a presence.