GAROWE (Kaab TV) – Puntland security forces have seized control of 70% of the territory previously held by ISIS in the mountainous regions of Bari, security officials told Kaab TV.
The government-led military operation, which began in late December, has now entered its second month.
Puntland authorities report that dozens of ISIS militants, including foreign fighters, have been killed.
Among them was Abdirahman Lahoor, a key commander who had been sentenced in absentia a few years ago.
Meanwhile, a high-profile Islamic State (ISIS) figure, Ahmed Maeleminine, was confirmed dead following a U.S. airstrike in the Cal Miskad mountains on February 1, 2025.
The airstrike, which targeted ISIS operatives in the region, was the first ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump since beginning his second term in office.
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni recently called for urgent support in eradicating the militant group.
“Puntland is fighting an international terrorist group using its own resources. We urge our diaspora community to stop ongoing meetings and urgently provide support,” President Deni said while visiting injured soldiers.
Days ago, Puntland security forces reported killing 57 ISIS fighters, including foreigners, as the group retreated into the deep Cal Miskad mountains.
However, the regional forces have faced intense resistance as militants regrouped, carrying out bombings and direct gunfights.
While U.S.-supported airstrikes continue, Puntland officials say Ethiopia, Kenya, and the UAE have also provided support in the ongoing offensive against ISIS.