Bosaso (Kaab TV) – At least five soldiers from the Puntland Defense Forces were killed and several others injured in an explosion that occurred around midday today on the road linking Bosaso and Dhaadaar in the Calmiskaad mountains.

The explosion targeted a military vehicle that was passing through the area. The attack is believed to have been carried out by the ISIS (Daacish) group.

The incident comes at a time when Puntland authorities have been criticized for scaling back military operations in the Calmiskaad mountain range, a move that reportedly allowed ISIS fighters to emerge from their hideouts and carry out attacks against Puntland forces.

According to information obtained by Kaab TV, a report presented during yesterday’s Puntland Council of Ministers meeting indicated that ISIS continues to receive a steady supply of resources.

Official information from reliable security sources suggests that the group receives food supplies and livestock directly from local pastoralists who are believed to have links with ISIS.

This development comes just three nights after the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted an airstrike targeting ISIS fighters with positions in the Baallade valley in the Calmiskaad mountains of the Bari region.