According to Puntland military officials, the ongoing operations are focused on remote mountainous areas and valleys where scattered ISIS fighters are believed to be hiding after being cut off from supply routes and escape corridors by Puntland forces operating on both land and along the coastline.

Security officials said the clearance operations involve coordinated ground assaults, intelligence-gathering missions, and aerial surveillance supported by international allies, including the United States and the United Arab Emirates, which have reportedly carried out airstrikes targeting suspected militant hideouts and movement routes.

A Puntland military officer stationed in the Cal Miskaad area said security forces are maintaining pressure on the remaining ISIS elements and monitoring every location suspected of sheltering militants.

“Our forces and allied aircraft are tracking all suspected positions where ISIS remnants may be hiding. The operations are ongoing, and we are determined to eliminate any remaining threat,” the officer said.

Local residents and nomadic communities in parts of Bari region have reported increased military activity over the past several days, including the movement of ground troops and a noticeable rise in aircraft flying over mountainous areas.

Some residents said the remaining militants have resorted to looting livestock, robbing travelers, and targeting isolated nomadic settlements after losing access to their traditional supply networks and financial resources.

4

The Cal Miskaad mountains have long been considered one of the main strongholds for ISIS fighters in northeastern Somalia due to the difficult terrain, caves, and remote hideouts that allow militants to evade conventional military operations.

Over the past several years, Puntland authorities have increasingly focused on dismantling ISIS networks in the Bari region, accusing the group of carrying out assassinations, extortion schemes, bomb attacks, and maintaining links with transnational extremist organizations operating across the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.

Operation Hillaac, launched in recent months, has been described by Puntland officials as one of the largest and most coordinated anti-ISIS offensives ever conducted in northeastern Somalia. Authorities claim the operation has succeeded in destroying multiple militant camps, weapons depots, communication centers, and training facilities hidden within the mountainous terrain.

Security analysts say the recent offensives have significantly weakened ISIS’s operational capacity in Puntland, forcing many fighters to scatter into smaller groups to avoid direct confrontations with security forces and airstrikes.

Despite the military gains, experts warn that isolated ISIS cells may continue to pose security threats through guerrilla-style attacks, ambushes, targeted killings, and criminal activities aimed at destabilizing local communities.

Puntland authorities previously issued warnings to nomadic residents and traders in parts of the Bari region to avoid areas suspected of harboring ISIS fighters. The government announced a five-day evacuation notice before expanding air and ground operations into the targeted zones.

The renewed operations also come amid broader regional efforts to combat extremist organizations operating across Somalia, where both Al-Shabaab and ISIS-linked groups continue to exploit insecurity, weak governance, and remote terrain to maintain their presence.

International security partners have increasingly supported Puntland’s counterterrorism operations through intelligence-sharing, aerial reconnaissance, and precision strikes aimed at preventing extremist groups from reestablishing safe havens in the region.

Officials say the operations will continue until all remaining ISIS fighters are either captured or eliminated from the Cal Miskaad mountains and surrounding areas.

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Puntland forces have been battling ISIS militants entrenched in the Cal Miskaad mountains since December 2024.

The counter-terror operation dubbed as “Hillaac” is now in its third phase.

During a meeting held in Bosaso, chaired by President Deni, discussions focused on accelerating the completion of the ongoing operation.

In a press statement issued by the government, it was noted that the meeting was attended by security officials and various levels of government authorities involved in the operation.

President Deni encouraged continued action to bring the operation to a successful close.

Key decisions announced at the meeting include:

Security forces were instructed to take firm action against illegal arms, unlicensed vehicles, and individuals involved in such activities.

Authorities at district, regional, and security levels were again reminded to crack down on the illegal entry of undocumented foreigners into Puntland, as well as to combat human smuggling operations.

Until further notice, the movement of passenger and cargo boats along the coastal areas of the operational zone has been banned, unless specific authorization is granted.

The movement of food supplies and aid into the operation areas has also been suspended unless prior approval is obtained and the origin and destination are clearly known.

The meeting also praised the people of Puntland, both inside the country and abroad, for their unwavering support of the Puntland forces engaged in the operation.

Locals were urged to continue their strong backing until the mission is fully achieved.

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According to the operation’s commanders, Miiraale Valley, located in the Cal Miskaad range, was believed to be a key hiding area for ISIS Somalia militants, who have been fiercely resisting the advancing forces.

In a brief statement, Puntland forces reported that they cleared the valley’s caves of the militants who had been hiding there.

This marks the third phase of the ongoing military offensive.

The operation against the ISIS-affiliated group began in December 2024, and Puntland authorities say that most of the mountainous areas have now been cleared of the group’s presence.

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has supported the operation with aerial strikes targeting ISIS hideouts, while the United Arab Emirates contributed equipment and financial aid.

Kenya and Ethiopia have also provided support to the campaign.

ISIS Somalia is believed to have its main base in the Cal Miskaad and Cal Madow mountain ranges in the Bari region.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab, linked to the Al-Qaeda network, also maintains strongholds in Cal Madow and the Golis mountains.

Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni announced in December that once the Cal Miskaad operation concludes, troops will advance into the Cal Madow mountains to clear out remaining extremist elements.

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