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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According to Bari Police Commissioner Abdukadir Jama Dirir, officers uncovered a house storing explosives and other terror-related materials during an overnight raid in Bosaso.

The raid followed an investigation linked to the Friday night explosion.

The deceased suspect, yet to be formally identified, had reportedly been living in Bosaso while disguising himself as a street vendor and occasionally posing as a beggar to gain local support.

Police also arrested a second man suspected of planting the IED after he was found with injuries sustained during the device’s explosion.

The IED detonated at a street corner but caused no casualties.

Following the #Puntland government’s decision to ban foreigners from working in Puntland due to security concerns, residents gathered in Garowe today to demand the removal of foreigners from the region.

The demonstrators supported the government’s decision, citing a recent… pic.twitter.com/5L2VarXuHz

— Kaab TV Breaking News (@KaabTV_Breaking) January 26, 2025

Commissioner Dirir reported that investigations led officers to the suspect’s residence, where they confiscated hand grenades, IEDs, and mobile phones used for terror activities.

This development comes as Puntland continues its major counter-terrorism operation targeting Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Bari’s mountainous region.

Since launching the operation, regional security forces have reclaimed territory and killed dozens of militants.

In a sweeping crackdown over the weekend, Bosaso police arrested more than a dozen suspects, including foreign nationals and 70 locals accused of collaborating with the militants, police confirmed.

Bosaso, like other cities in Puntland, hosts a significant number of Ethiopian refugees, many of them ethnic Oromo who fled conflict and hardship in their home country.

Meanwhile, following the Puntland government’s decision to ban foreigners from working in the region due to security concerns, residents gathered in Garowe today to demand the removal of foreigners.

#Puntland Issues Decision To Control the “Threats Posed by Foreign Nationals”

The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Democratization of #Puntland State, in consideration of public safety and security, has issued the following directives:

– Due to the ongoing security… pic.twitter.com/1tfPThuu4S

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) January 25, 2025

The demonstrators expressed their support for the government’s decision, pointing to the recent incident in Bosaso where a foreign man was killed while allegedly planting a bomb in the city.

The Puntland Ministry of Interior issued new directives to counter security threats posed by illegal foreign entrants.

The directives prohibit unauthorized foreign nationals from entering Puntland and ban begging using written papers in public places, such as mosques, streets, and business areas.

Telecommunication companies were ordered to refrain from issuing phone lines to foreign nationals lacking valid identification and recognized guarantors.

Existing phone numbers used for begging activities are to be deactivated immediately.

Effective January 25, 2025, the directive prohibits anyone residing unlawfully in Puntland from renting housing, obtaining phone lines, or seeking employment.

Individuals facilitating these activities will be prosecuted as accomplices in criminal offenses. Furthermore, unregistered small businesses operating in markets are now banned.

The post Puntland Police Kill Foreign Bomb Maker in Bosaso, Arrest Another appeared first on Kaab TV.

Thousands of families have been displaced as the military campaign intensifies, forcing locals to flee their homes.

According to government reports, over 19,640 families have been uprooted by the counter-terrorism operation, which was launched in late December under the codename “Operation Hillaac.”

The operation aims to dismantle ISIS strongholds in the Cal Miskaad Mountains, a rugged and remote area in northeastern Somalia.

On Thursday, the Puntland Cabinet convened in the port town of Bosaso, where President Said Abdullahi Deni has been personally overseeing the campaign.

The meeting resulted in an urgent appeal to humanitarian aid groups and international partners involved in stabilization efforts.

Interior Minister Abdi Farah Said called on United Nations agencies and other international partners to provide immediate assistance to displaced families and communities affected by the conflict.

“We are particularly appealing to UN agencies to provide humanitarian aid to those affected by the ongoing operation. Additionally, we urge agencies involved in stabilization projects, such as USAID, to assist communities in the liberated areas,” said Minister Abdi Farah.

The minister emphasized the need for essential services in the areas cleared of militants, including education, healthcare, water, and roads.

“These services will enable displaced locals to resume their livelihoods and allow the government to ensure their safety once they return,” he added.

So far, 19,640 families have fled their homes

His appeal was echoed by Ubah Abdirashid Mohamed Hirsi, Puntland’s Minister of Humanitarian Management, who confirmed the staggering displacement numbers.

“So far, 19,640 families have fled their homes and are in desperate need of emergency support. Poor rainfall last year compounded the difficulties these families were already facing, and now this displacement has worsened their situation,” she said.

The Minister of Information, Mohamud Aideed Dirir, praised the progress made by Puntland Security Forces (PSF), despite limited resources.

“The counter-ISIS operation, which we initially projected to take months, has achieved remarkable success in just a few weeks. ISIS fighters are on the run, abandoning their positions, and Puntland forces are pursuing them in the remote mountains,” he stated.

Dirir commended local communities for their role in providing intelligence that has been instrumental in tracking the militants.

On Thursday, Puntland forces reportedly seized key ISIS bases, including training camps and storage facilities for food and fuel.

Among the captured items were documents belonging to a Saudi national suspected to be a financier of the group, who fled the area before the forces arrived.

The conflict escalated on December 31, when ISIS carried out a car bomb attack on a Puntland army base in Dharjaalle.

The explosion killed 12 foreign militants, including individuals from Tanzania, Tunisia, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Comoros, alongside Somali fighters.

Though smaller in scale compared to al-Shabaab, ISIS-Somalia remains a significant threat in the region.

The group, which has been active in Puntland since 2015, is led by Abdulqadir Mumin, a former al-Shabaab commander who pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Operating primarily in the Golis Mountains, ISIS-Somalia has conducted assassinations and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks.

Puntland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden and near the Red Sea makes it a critical hub for international maritime trade, but it also attracts militant groups exploiting the area for smuggling and other illicit activities.

The post Puntland Appeals for Urgent Aid Amid Military Operations Against ISIS appeared first on Kaab TV.

The Hillaac [thunder] Operation in Puntland has achieved remarkable success in less than a month since it was launched, marking a historic milestone in Somalia’s counter-terrorism efforts.

Security experts in the Horn of Africa have acknowledged this achievement.

However, Hassan Sheikh has reportedly turned his focus toward implementing a sinister plan aimed at undermining Puntland’s operations.

A recently obtained document, which has undergone thorough our independent analysis, outlines the following:

The FGS has allegedly authorized and provided assistance to Al-Shabaab and ISIS fighters hiding in the mountains of Sanaag and Bari.

This support reportedly includes facilitating the transfer of supplies and equipment required by the militants.

Since March 2024, around 800 ISIS fighters reportedly crossed from Maydh, a costal town in Sanaag region, with the involvement of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

NISA has been overwhelmingly infiltrated by Al-Shabaab defectors and many of them were promoted to senior positions due to their clan affiliation.

According to the intelligence report, Hassan Sheikh has allowed Al-Shabaab fighters in southern Somalia to move toward Puntland to disrupt the security of its cities, exploiting Puntland’s preoccupation with operations in the mountainous region of Bari.

Both Al-Shabaab and ISIS received weapons originating from Iran via Yemen.

This transfer involved arms dealers, businessmen, and government officials linked to Hassan Sheikh’s administration.

The militants have also acquired drones of Iranian and Chinese origin.

This was after U.S. intelligence community has learned of discussions between Houthis in Yemen to provide weapons to the Somali militant group al-Shabaab in June 2024.

Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre (a known member of the Muslim Brotherhood), visited Baghdad, Iraq in July 2024 accompanied by Hassan Sheikh’s national security adviser, Hussein Sheikh Ali (the brother to the current Minister of Justice Hassan Moalim who is also another member of the the Muslim Brotherhood).

While in Baghdad, Hamza met with the officials at the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which is a branch of the Iranian military and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States since April 2019.

During the Bagdad meeting, the Somali prime minister asked IRGC’s help in stopping Houthis’ weapons supply to the militant group.

But more than six months now, the Mogadishu administration remained silent and failed to take action to stop the weapons reaching the militants.

Hassan Sheikh’s primary concern is that if Puntland, a rival state to his administration, succeeds in eradicating terrorism and has already established a one-person, one-vote electoral process, it could signify the failure of Mogadishu’s political leadership.

This could lead to future discussions about Somalia’s governance being centered on Puntland and Somaliland, which are stable and governed through democratic processes.

To prevent this impending reality, Hassan Sheikh is reportedly making concerted efforts to halt Puntland’s progress.

Concerns have also been raised about the influx of people coming through Berbera from Ethiopia, many claiming to be fleeing the Addis Ababa regime.

However, it is suspected that among these migrants could be affiliated with terrorist groups.

These concerns has gained urgency following the Dharjaalle ISIS attack on 31 December 2024, where a suicide bombing at the Puntland army base killed 12 foreigners, including individuals from Ethiopia, Tunisia, Tanzania, Morocco, Algeria, and Comoros, as claimed by ISIS-affiliated platforms.

Additionally, the influx of foreign militants in Somalia has been further exposed by the seizure of Puntland forces on Thursday the documents of Mohamed Ahmed AlHawshani, a Saudi national, believed to be financier of the Islamic State, who came through Egypt and Ethiopia before reaching the Bari mountains.

The post Mogadishu’s Complicity: Hassan Sheikh Schemes to Undermine Puntland’s Counter-Terrorism Progress appeared first on Kaab TV.

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.

The post ISIS Drones Downed, Caves of Food Uncovered, and IEDs Cleared as Puntland Forces Battle Militants appeared first on Kaab TV.

The man, described as thin and middle-aged, was arrested and appeared exhausted.

“This Ethiopian national surrendered to the army, which reflects the pressure Daesh is under,” the Puntland Counterterrorism Operation Command stated.

The forces conducted a sweeping operation in the mountainous area of Bari, with a raid carried out in Bali Dhidin village on Tuesday.

Last month, Puntland launched a security operation dubbed Hillac aimed at defeating ISIS militants.

Since 2015, ISIS has been building its influence in Puntland, extorting millions of dollars from businesses in Bosaso, Puntland’s main port town.

The post Ethiopian ISIS Operative Captured in Bari Counterterrorism Operation appeared first on Kaab TV.

The focus on ISIS’s economic strategies follows a terror attack last Monday, in which Puntland security forces killed 12 ISIS fighters during a suicide car bomb followed by a raid by gunmen on an army base in Dharjaalle, a remote village in the Bari region.

Security forces successfully repelled the assault and later discovered the bodies of 12 militants, including fighters from Tanzania, Morocco, Tunisia, Comoros, and Ethiopia.

ISIS propaganda footage later confirmed their identities.

According to Puntland intelligence officials, foreign fighters form a substantial portion of ISIS’s presence in the region.

Many are experts in mining and mineral extraction, leveraging the region’s rich deposits of gold and other resources.

Local laborers are reportedly employed in mining operations, while residents in ISIS-controlled areas face financial extortion to avoid disruption of the group’s activities.

“They invaded our country to exploit our people and steal our resources,” said Abdirahman Mohamed Jama, the officer in charge of security operations for the Puntland Maritime Police, during a meeting with locals in Timirshe village on Saturday.

The Puntland officials alongside the maritime police, a unit trained by the UAE, are engaging local villagers in the area to help gather intel and warn against any local collaboration with the militants.

“The government will be here. We assure your security, and nobody will harm you,” said another officer, Mohamud Silal Omar.

The Bari region’s geography presents additional challenges for Puntland security forces.

Much of the area consists of remote fishing towns along the coast, giving militants unimpeded access to the sea.

This access has facilitated the movement of fighters and resources, as well as the smuggling of gold and weapons.

Puntland’s Deputy President, Ilyas Osman, stated last month that 80% of ISIS fighters in the region are foreigners.

Osman added that the group seeks to dominate areas near the Red Sea maritime route, a vital global trade corridor.

Both ISIS and Al-Shabaab are believed to acquire weapons from Yemen’s Houthi militia, further fueling concerns about the porous sea border between Puntland and Yemen.

Intelligence officers believe the gold extracted by ISIS in Puntland may be traded for arms, though it remains unclear whether the Houthis or other entities are involved.

Local officials state that the revenue from mining operations is likely funding destabilizing activities, including attacks on major cities like Bosaso, Puntland’s primary port on the Red Sea.

In response, Puntland authorities have launched the “Hillac Operation,” deploying thousands of troops to remote mountainous areas to dismantle ISIS’s operations.

President Said Abdullahi Deni emphasized that curbing ISIS’s financial lifelines, particularly from extortion of business community and gold mining, is critical to restoring regional stability.

The combination of resource exploitation, unregulated coastal access, and foreign militant involvement underscores the growing threat ISIS poses in Puntland and the broader Horn of Africa.

Security experts warn that without immediate and sustained intervention, the group’s operations could have far-reaching implications for both regional and international stability.

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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.

The post Puntland Evacuates Injured Soldiers to Ethiopia After ISIS Attack appeared first on Kaab TV.

The operation was officially launched by Hon. Mohamed Baarri Shire, First Deputy Speaker of the Puntland Parliament.

The ceremony took place in Isku-shuban, a coastal area in eastern Puntland, reportedly used as a base by ISIS militants.

The goal of Operation Hillaac is to clear Puntland’s rugged terrain of terrorist groups, who have been increasingly active in the region.

Recent reports indicate that ISIS militants, many of whom are foreign nationals, have been flocking to the mountainous areas of Puntland.

These militants have reportedly reached agreements with other terrorist groups, including Al-Shabaab and the Houthi militia in Yemen.

According to intelligence sources, ISIS’s Africa network, now the largest ISIS faction globally, has established Somalia as its central hub due to the country’s significant revenue-generating potential.

This has drawn the interest of Al-Shabaab and the Houthis, who are reportedly selling weapons to the ISIS group. Iran has been identified as a primary supplier of arms to these factions.

The new operation targets ISIS and Al-Shabaab hideouts in the mountainous region connecting towards the Red Sea coast, a crucial global maritime route.

Puntland Deputy President Ilyas Osman Lugator recently expressed concern about the growing threat of ISIS in the region, stating, “Now, we are facing something worse: a group called ISIS has arrived. 80% of them are foreigners who are not from this country. The greatest threat is extremism.”

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