In a statement issued by the Puntland Defense Forces Command, officials confirmed that the evacuation was facilitated by the Task Force for Support and Medical Care, acting on orders from President Said Abdullahi Deni.

The injured soldiers were flown out of Bossaso airport on Thursday afternoon.

Senior officials, including members of the Task Force, Puntland lawmakers, the Director of the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), and other presidential aides, were present to oversee the evacuation.

Although the number of injured soldiers remains undisclosed, officials stated that their medical needs exceeded the capacity of local healthcare facilities.

Ethiopia responded positively to a request from Puntland to provide medical assistance for the soldiers.

In a related development, Puntland forces conducted security operations on Thursday in areas surrounding the Calmadow mountains, including Timirshe in the Isku-Shuban district.

Military officials said the operations aimed to secure the region amid ongoing anti-terror efforts.

Monday’s suicide attack targeted a Puntland military base in Dharjaalle, located in the mountainous Bari region.

Puntland authorities reported that eight ISIS fighters, described as foreign nationals, were killed during the assault.

Puntland has since intensified its counterterrorism efforts under an operation named “Hillaac” (Lightning), aimed at eliminating ISIS and Al-Shabaab militants from the region’s rugged mountain terrain.

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General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed Faadhigo, the spokesperson for the Puntland Defense Forces, detailed the assault on a base in Dharjaale, where forces were preparing for a major military operation.

“Today, at around 4:00 a.m., the base of the Puntland Counter-Terror Forces in Dharjaale was attacked by ISIS. We had prior intelligence about the attack, which enabled our forces to decisively destroy the militants, including foreign fighters,” said General Faadhigo.

Last week, Puntland announced a large-scale operation aimed at eradicating the spread of militants in the region.

A significant number of forces were mobilized and deployed to the mountainous areas of Bari, which border the Red Sea.

On Tuesday, the militants initiated the attack with a suicide car bomb, but the Puntland Defense Forces were prepared, repelling the assault with precision.

#ALERT: General Mohamud Faadhig, the spokesperson for the #Puntland Defense Forces, said they had repelled an #ISIS militant attack on a Puntland Defense Forces base in Dharjaale, located in eastern #Bari region of Puntland, where the forces were preparing for a major military… pic.twitter.com/lwDK6wGBtS

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) December 31, 2024

According to the spokesperson, all attackers were eliminated, including eight foreign fighters, and their weapons were confiscated.

Local residents reported seeing ISIS fighters retreating after their defeat. “The situation remains tense,” noted residents from a remote mountainous village near the scene.

Puntland’s Deputy President, Ilyas Osman, lauded the military’s bravery.

“I call on all Puntland people to support the Puntland Defense Forces in their fight against terrorist groups,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Photographs released by the military showcased confiscated weapons, including an AK-47 rifle stamped with the Shahada, reportedly used by the militants.

Formation of Support Committee

Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni visited injured soldiers at a hospital in Bosaso, expressing solidarity and pledging continued support.

Although the exact number of wounded soldiers was not disclosed, the government confirmed that the injuries resulted from the suicide car bomb attack.

President Deni announced the formation of a seven-member Committee for Support and Care to oversee the injured soldiers’ recovery.

The committee includes prominent officials such as Health Minister Said Jama Ali Qoorsheel, Minister of Air Transport Abdullahi Bille Nuur, and Mayor of Bosaso Abdifatah Haji Shanle.

Their primary focus will be aiding personnel affected by the ongoing operations in the Golis Mountains.

ISIS in Puntland: A Growing Threat

While ISIS-Somalia remains smaller in scale compared to al-Shabaab, its presence in Puntland underscores the region’s vulnerability.

ISIS has had a presence in Puntland since 2015, when a faction led by Abdulqadir Mumin broke away from al-Shabaab to pledge allegiance to ISIS.

Operating predominantly in the Golis Mountains, ISIS-Somalia has engaged in assassinations and IED attacks.

Puntland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden and its proximity to the Red Sea are critical to international maritime trade routes.

This geography has attracted militant groups, exploiting the area for smuggling and other illicit activities.

Regional militant activities are compounded by the interplay of international actors.

U.S. intelligence has reported discussions between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and al-Shabaab regarding potential arms transfers, bolstered by Iran’s well-documented support for the Houthis.

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