Bosaso (KAAB TV) – The Mayor of Bosaso District, Dr. Abdirahman Abdullahi Ali, has issued a strong and unequivocal warning to individuals suspected of providing any form of support—logistical, financial, or material—to members of the Daesh (ISIS) terrorist group currently engaged in armed conflict with Puntland security forces in the Bari region of northeastern Somalia.
Speaking during a high-level security meeting convened in Bosaso, Mayor Abdirahman emphasized that the local administration will take firm legal action against anyone found to be aiding the militant group, particularly those supplying food, fuel, or other logistical materials.
“We are sending a clear and uncompromising message: Anyone found delivering supplies or assistance to the Daesh militants will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the Mayor stated. “These individuals are not just committing a crime—they are endangering the lives of innocent people and undermining national security.”
The mayor noted that the ongoing military campaign known as Operation Hilaac has significantly weakened Daesh’s operational capacity in the region.
As a result, the group has been largely cut off from its previous channels of external support and is now relying on local collaborators to survive.
Dr. Abdirahman specifically appealed to traditional elders, religious leaders, and community representatives in the Bari region to work closely with security forces by identifying and reporting anyone suspected of harboring or assisting the terrorists.
“We call on all community leaders, elders, and residents in the affected areas to stand with the government and security forces.
Your role in identifying and reporting those who assist these militants is crucial to achieving lasting peace and stability,” he said.
Local reports confirm that Puntland’s security forces have already arrested multiple individuals believed to have provided logistical support to Daesh operatives hiding in the mountainous areas of Bari, a region that has long served as a hideout for the extremist group.
Investigations into these cases are ongoing, and further arrests are expected as intelligence operations continue.
The Puntland regional government has intensified its counter-terrorism efforts in recent months, with military operations escalating in remote and rugged terrains where Daesh cells are believed to be entrenched.
Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to continuing these operations until all militant networks in the region are dismantled.
Security analysts have praised the effectiveness of Operation Hilaac, noting that the crackdown has significantly disrupted Daesh’s supply lines and weakened its ability to carry out attacks in the region.
However, officials stress that the cooperation of local communities remains essential to fully eradicating the group’s influence.