The Commander of Puntland’s Almiskaad Operations Zone, Colonel Mahmoud Shire Mohamed, has provided an update on ongoing military operations targeting ISIS militants hiding in the Almiskaad mountain range in Somalia’s Bari region.
Speaking about recent developments, Col. Mahmoud Shire said an ISIS-linked foreign fighter detonated himself on Wednesday night after being wounded by Puntland security forces.
According to the commander, the militant was attempting to plant a roadside bomb along the route connecting the Sheebaab and Dhaadaar areas when troops engaged him.
The commander said Puntland forces injured the suspect before he carried out the planned attack, leading him to trigger the explosives he was carrying.
The incident is part of a broader campaign against armed extremist groups operating in the rugged mountainous terrain of Almiskaad.
Meanwhile, Puntland forces have launched what officials describe as a large-scale military offensive against ISIS positions across several areas of the Almiskaad mountains.
The operations are aimed at clearing militant hideouts and disrupting the group’s activities in the region.
The latest offensive comes as Puntland has intensified its military campaign against ISIS in recent months, particularly in the mountainous areas of Bari, which have long served as a key refuge for the group’s fighters.
Authorities say operations are continuing, with security forces pursuing remaining militants and working to dismantle their networks in the region.