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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A local import and export company called Al-Macruuf has said it has closed its offices and stores in Bosaso after they failed to pay a sum of 500,000 dollars claimed by ISIL group.

According to employees of the Al-Macruuf company, a business store belonging to the company was recently blown up by the militant group resulting a loss of life and property.

“Businessmen in Bosaso say they are facing major threat as the Daesh group has imposed extortion demand with death threats against local businesspeople as part of the terror group’s campaign to generate income,” one employee who spoke to Kaab TV on anonymity condition in fear for his security said.

The Puntland security authorities have not yet commented on the matter.

Recently, Al-Shabaab and Daesh fought in the mountainous region of Bari region, where dozens of fighters were killed. The two militia groups have been competing for control of the area to generate income in the region.

Puntland security forces have not recently launched attacks on the the two group’s bases in the region.

“This has given them the opportunity to carry out direct attacks, explosions and ambushes.  They are also threatening businesses,” said former Puntland security officer Ali Wehliye.

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