GAROWE (Kaab TV) – Puntland Police Force officers in the Ufeyn district of Bari region on Tuesday arrested a Yemeni national suspected of being a member of the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group operating in the Calmiskaad mountains.

The suspect, identified as Mukhtaar Ali Nasir, was captured in the Afcad area of Ufeyn district, according to officials. Authorities said he had been traveling with two other men who managed to escape before the arrest.

General Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed Faadhigo, spokesperson for the Calmiskaad military operation, said the suspects had been searching for donkeys and had spent three days traveling from the Shakaala area, which officials describe as one of the remaining ISIS strongholds in the mountainous region.

Puntland authorities have intensified military operations against ISIS militants in the Calmiskaad mountains since earlier this year, targeting hideouts and supply routes used by the group in northeastern Somalia.

Earlier this year, the Puntland Government publicly displayed dozens of foreign ISIS suspects captured during operations in the Calmiskaad campaign, many of whom have not yet appeared before court.

According to Puntland officials, around 50 foreign fighters were detained during the operations. Nearly half were reportedly from neighboring Ethiopia, while others came from Morocco, Yemen, Tanzania, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Puntland security forces say operations in the Calmiskaad mountains are continuing as authorities attempt to dismantle ISIS networks and eliminate remaining militant cells in the region.

The post Puntland Forces Detain Yemeni ISIS Suspect appeared first on Kaab TV.

Cooperation between Puntland and the United States reached its highest level on November 25, when more than 200 American Special Forces personnel carried out coordinated ground and air attacks on ISIS bases in the Baalade Valley.

MQ-9 Reaper drones conducted targeted airstrikes on locations believed to be sheltering senior ISIS officials. Preliminary reports suggest that the operation killed a high-ranking ISIS commander along with about 15 fighters of Syrian, Turkish, and Ethiopian origin.

Puntland forces also destroyed a weapons cache and equipment used by the group to manage illegal gold-mining operations—one of ISIS’s key financial sources.

Puntland security officials say that although Mumin’s group has been significantly weakened, the leader himself remains in the Al Miskad Mountains, frequently shifting between hideouts. An estimated 200 ISIS fighters are still in the area, reportedly suffering from severe shortages of food and supplies. Security sources in the Bari region say the group now survives on wild plants, highlighting the drastic decline in its combat capability.

Abdulqadir Mumin has long been associated with extremist platforms, having previously worked in mosques in Britain where he was accused of spreading radical ideologies.

Puntland forces say they will continue operations against the group, insisting that Mumin has no viable escape route. A senior PMPF officer stated that the group is now in its “final stage.”

The post Newly Appointed Daesh Leader in Hiding as Operations Against ISIS Intensify appeared first on Kaab TV.

Kaab TV has learned that a delegation led by Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni, who recently visited the UAE, held discussions with the UAE Government on ways to provide extensive support to Puntland’s operations against Daesh.

Puntland has emphasized the importance of boosting the morale of its fighting forces and has requested support to compensate the families of soldiers who died in the conflict.

While the exact number of soldiers who have died in Puntland has not been officially announced, estimates suggest the toll is in the hundreds since the launch of the Lightning Operation, which targeted ISIS positions in the region.

Sources close to the Puntland presidency have confirmed that up to $20,000 will be provided to the family of each soldier who died during Operation Hellaac.

This initiative could help Puntland build confidence in its military forces fighting against the terrorist group. The region has recently faced criticism for allegedly failing to provide adequate medical care and support to soldiers injured in the anti-terrorism campaign.

In addition, Puntland hopes the UAE will assist with the salaries of government employees. Currently, the UAE covers the salaries of the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), which received training from the UAE.

Puntland has faced a financial shortfall due to the suspension of international budget support, which it has not received for more than six years because of conflicts with the Federal Government in Mogadishu.

The post UAE Assists Puntland in Compensating Fallen Soldiers in the Fight Against ISIS appeared first on Kaab TV.

The individuals, identified as Maadey Hussein Ibrahim and Hassan Ibrahim Abdirahman, have been transferred to Bosaso city for investigation, according to Puntland military officials.

Meanwhile, Puntland forces are conducting an operation in the Maragade Well area in the Baalle stream, where U.S. forces recently carried out airstrikes targeting ISIS militants.

Puntland counter-terrorism units, working in cooperation with international partners, reportedly killed at least five fleeing ISIS fighters in Barakalash, located within the Al-Miskad mountains.

Over the past few days, both air and ground operations have intensified in the Baalle stream area of Al-Miskad, in what authorities describe as the final phase of efforts to eliminate the remaining ISIS (Daesh) presence in the region.

The post Puntland Forces Detain ISIS Fighters Following Their Surrender appeared first on Kaab TV.

The sharp exchange reflects the growing political rift between Puntland and the federal government in Mogadishu.

Minister Dirir’s remarks came after Defense Minister Fiqi criticized two Puntland ministers — Interior Minister Abdi Farah Said “Juxa” and Information Minister Mahmoud Aydid Dirir — describing them as “hungry and dishonorable men” for attending a ceremony in Garowe marking Ethiopia’s dam project.

Reacting angrily, Minister Dirir dismissed Fiqi’s comments and hit back, calling him “a hungry man who digs graves for money,” while accusing him of being a former extremist.

“Fiqi himself is the hungry one, digging graves [evictions of cemetery in Mogadishu] to earn money. He should stop digging graves. He was Al-Shabaab before, and everyone knows his extremist past. His photos with the Islamic Courts are everywhere. Fiqi has sat in every extremist circle, from the Islamic Courts to Al-Shabaab,” Minister Dirir said.

The latest war of words underscores the tense relationship between Puntland’s leadership and Mogadishu, which has been marked by disputes over power-sharing, federalism, and alliances with foreign partners.

The post Somalia’s Defense Minister Accused of Terror Links appeared first on Kaab TV.

Puntland counter-terrorism officials confirmed the arrest on Friday, stating that Abdiweli was captured along with two others in Laag, a remote area in Xumbeys district.

The operation was conducted with support from U.S. partners assisting Puntland’s ongoing fight against terrorist groups.

“Abdiweli Mohamed Aw Yusuf was captured with two others in Laag, Xumbeys. The operation was carried out by Puntland’s U.S.🇺🇸 partners supporting Puntland’s Counter-Terrorism Operations,” the counter-terror unit said in a statement.

Authorities described Abdiweli as a Puntland-born militant who rose through the ranks of ISIS-Somalia in recent months, taking over key financial and foreign coordination roles as the group expanded its funding networks inside the country.

The arrest is part of the broader Calmiskaad Operation, which officials say is now nearing its final phase.

A manhunt continues for other ISIS fighters and commanders who fled during the offensive.

Ahmed Yusuf Osman, the District Commissioner of Xumbeys, confirmed that Abdiweli is currently in the custody of Puntland security agencies.

This latest capture comes just weeks after Puntland forces apprehended a Turkish-born ISIS fighter who had been hiding in the mountainous region, underscoring the ongoing regional effort to dismantle ISIS operations in Somalia.

The post U.S. and Puntland Forces Capture Senior ISIS-Somalia Commander appeared first on Kaab TV.

The UK has long been a key partner in Somalia’s peacebuilding and security initiatives. Ambassador King, who was appointed in May this year, held high-level talks with Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor at the Presidential Palace.

According to a statement from the Puntland presidency, the meeting—also attended by several cabinet members—focused on Somalia’s broader political and security dynamics, internal affairs of Puntland including the fight against terrorism, the democratization process, and UK-funded development projects in the region.

As part of its continued support, the UK handed over a donation of essential medicines and medical supplies to bolster Puntland’s ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the Al-Miskad mountain range.

Puntland authorities said the ambassador commended the region’s firm commitment to eliminating terrorist groups.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ambassador King expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome during his first official visit to Garowe. “Great to visit Garowe for the first time to meet President @HESaidADeni and see this dynamic city,” he wrote.

He added that discussions focused on Somali political dialogue, joint stabilization efforts, and the fight against extremist groups like ISIS and Al-Shabaab, stressing that progress in these areas is essential for a stable and secure Somalia.

The post UK Ambassador in Garowe, Pledges Support for Puntland’s Anti-Terror Efforts and Democratization appeared first on Kaab TV.

The suspect, identified as Hassan Atar, was arrested on Sunday, June 15, while fetching water alone from a well.

He was armed with an AK-47 rifle but unaccompanied, according to Brigadier General Ahmed Abdullahi Sheikh, one of the senior officers leading the counter-terror campaign.

“This represents a substantial achievement by Puntland’s counter-terror operations,” said Brig. Gen. Sheikh. “These exceptional tactical gains will significantly contribute to intelligence gathering, improving threat assessments, and deepening our understanding of this global terror network.”

The arrest was carried out by the 3rd Battalion of the Puntland Defense Forces. Atar is currently being held at an undisclosed interrogation facility.

This follows a similar incident in which Puntland forces previously captured a Moroccan national linked to ISIS.

Sweeping military campaign targeting ISIS

Since December 2024, Puntland has launched a sweeping military campaign targeting ISIS bases entrenched in the Cal Miskaad mountains.

The offensive, supported by U.S. forces, the UAE, and Ethiopia, has led to the recapture of key militant positions.

In a related development earlier this year, Puntland security forces recovered the passport of Mohamed Ahmed Al Hawshani, a Saudi ISIS operative, which revealed he had entered Somalia via Egypt, providing critical insight into the movement of foreign militants.

Meanwhile, following a deadly car bombing, Puntland authorities neutralized 12 ISIS militants near Dharjaalle, a remote mountain area in Bari.

According to Puntland intelligence sources, foreign fighters have been identified from countries including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.

While ISIS-Somalia remains smaller in scale compared to the al-Shabaab insurgency, its continued foothold in Puntland underscores the region’s ongoing security challenges.

ISIS-Somalia was established in 2015 when Abdulqadir Mumin, a former al-Shabaab cleric, pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Operating primarily in the Golis Mountains, the group has been responsible for a string of assassinations and IED attacks targeting security forces and local officials.

Puntland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden and its proximity to the Red Sea make it a key corridor for international maritime trade.

However, the same geography also renders it vulnerable to smuggling networks and transnational criminal activity, which extremist groups exploit for funding.

The region’s complex security environment is further complicated by the involvement of international actors and the broader geopolitical dynamics of the Horn of Africa.

The post Puntland Forces Capture Turkish ISIS Fighter in Ongoing Anti-Terror Operation appeared first on Kaab TV.

In his remarks, President Deni warned that Somalia’s system of governance is at risk of imminent collapse, citing the deterioration of state institutions.

He noted that growing insecurity has forced many citizens to flee the country in search of safety.

President Deni also accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of undermining the fragile federal system, alleging that his administration has contributed to the ongoing political disintegration.

The Puntland Parliament resumed its sessions today and is expected to discuss a range of key issues on its agenda.

Puntland, a semi-autonomous state in northeastern Somalia, cut ties with Mogadishu two years ago following President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s unilateral amendment of the federal constitution.

“We are at a point where all Somali people must awaken,” said President Deni. “I am calling on all Somali politicians, wherever they may be, to prioritize the salvation of the country above all else and work together to restore stability without pursuing personal or political interests.”

He warned that if the country fails to navigate this critical stage, it risks fragmentation and disintegration—recovery from which could take a long time.

President Deni stated that Puntland is ready to support the establishment of a functional federal government in Somalia, where every citizen can play their role.

He also expressed his support for the recently launched National Salvation Forum by opposition figures in Mogadishu, describing it as a unifying platform for those opposing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration.

President Deni’s speech in Garowe comes as the Federal Government in Mogadishu postponed a scheduled meeting of the National Consultative Council (NCC), a forum comprising federal and regional state leaders.

Both Puntland and Jubaland have withdrawn from the NCC, accusing it of being used to advance President Mohamud’s political agenda.

The post Puntland President Deni Opens 56th Session of Parliament, Warns of National Collapse appeared first on Kaab TV.

Sources close to the Puntland presidency have confirmed that nine prisoners currently held in Puntland prisons, who were captured from Somaliland, will be transferred from Garowe tomorrow.

In return, Somaliland is set to release 11 prisoners originally from Puntland.

This marks the first such agreement aimed at normalizing relations between the two neighboring regions, which have long been at odds.

Puntland and Somaliland have been in dispute over the Sool and Sanaag regions. However, in 2023, following a major conflict in Las Anod, a new administration called SSC-Khaatumo was established.

Somaliland considers itself an independent state, while Puntland is a federal member state of Somalia.

Sources in Hargeisa indicate that this prisoner release reflects a new thaw in relations between Hargeisa and Garowe.

During the Las Anod conflict, Puntland supported the local population with troops, weapons, and finances, which contributed to Somaliland’s defeat in the August 2023 battle.

However, relations between Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo have recently soured, particularly after SSC-Khaatumo aligned itself with the Federal Government of Somalia — a government that Puntland currently has strained ties and deep disagreements with.

The post Puntland and Somaliland Set to Exchange Prisoners in Landmark Agreement appeared first on Kaab TV.