The ongoing operation, codenamed Hillaac, launched in December and targets ISIS hideouts in the Al-Miskad and Al-Madow mountain ranges, spanning the Bari and Sanaag regions.

On December 31, ISIS militants carried out a large-scale car bomb attack on Puntland’s military base in Dharjaalle.

The attack was repelled, with Puntland forces killing at least 12 militants, including eight foreign fighters.

This week, Puntland’s Marine Police—trained and funded by the UAE—alongside the police and Darwish units, advanced approximately 80 kilometers deeper into the mountains.

General Abdirahman Jama, the operation’s commanding officer stated the forces covered a large part of the mountainous area.

“The ISIS militants cannot withstand our forces and have begun fleeing, but they have left behind IEDs in the areas they abandoned. We know their tricks and we are vigilant,” he added.

On Saturday, the advancing forces destroyed several IEDs along the road.

Vehicles were halted, and troops proceeded on foot with extreme caution, as the risk of hidden explosives remained high.

Local communities were also warned to avoid potentially hazardous areas.

Later in the day, the forces discovered a deep cave in the Al-Miskad Mountains containing abandoned supplies, including rice, beans, oil, and sugar, likely used by ISIS fighters.

Solar panels and a dozen mobile phones were also recovered from the site.

In a first for Puntland’s counterterrorism efforts, the forces successfully downed two ISIS surveillance drones deployed to monitor troop movements.

“We hope to secure the entire mountainous area within days,” said Officer Mohamud, one of the commanders leading the operation.

U.S. AFRICOM has supported the offensive by conducting targeted airstrikes on militant hideouts.

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According to Puntland Police Commander General Mumin Abdi Shire, five key militant command posts were destroyed during the operation.

ISIS in Puntland: A Growing Threat

While ISIS-Somalia remains smaller in scale compared to al-Shabaab, its presence in Puntland highlights the region’s persistent security challenges.

ISIS first established a foothold in Puntland in 2015 when a faction led by Abdulqadir Mumin broke away from al-Shabaab and pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Operating predominantly in the Golis Mountains, the group has conducted assassinations and IED attacks, exploiting Puntland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden near critical international maritime trade routes.

The region’s instability is further exacerbated by international dynamics.

U.S. intelligence has reported potential arms transfers between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and al-Shabaab, backed by Iran’s known support for the Houthis.

This convergence of militant activity in the Horn of Africa poses a growing threat to regional and international security.

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