GAROWE (Kaab TV) – The Puntland government today launched a major military offensive codenamed “Hillaac” aimed at eradicating ISIS and Al-Shabaab militants from the mountainous regions of the autonomous state.
The operation was officially launched by Hon. Mohamed Baarri Shire, First Deputy Speaker of the Puntland Parliament.
The ceremony took place in Isku-shuban, a coastal area in eastern Puntland, reportedly used as a base by ISIS militants.
The goal of Operation Hillaac is to clear Puntland’s rugged terrain of terrorist groups, who have been increasingly active in the region.
Recent reports indicate that ISIS militants, many of whom are foreign nationals, have been flocking to the mountainous areas of Puntland.
These militants have reportedly reached agreements with other terrorist groups, including Al-Shabaab and the Houthi militia in Yemen.
According to intelligence sources, ISIS’s Africa network, now the largest ISIS faction globally, has established Somalia as its central hub due to the country’s significant revenue-generating potential.
This has drawn the interest of Al-Shabaab and the Houthis, who are reportedly selling weapons to the ISIS group. Iran has been identified as a primary supplier of arms to these factions.
The new operation targets ISIS and Al-Shabaab hideouts in the mountainous region connecting towards the Red Sea coast, a crucial global maritime route.
Puntland Deputy President Ilyas Osman Lugator recently expressed concern about the growing threat of ISIS in the region, stating, “Now, we are facing something worse: a group called ISIS has arrived. 80% of them are foreigners who are not from this country. The greatest threat is extremism.”