Officials from the Puntland forces operating in the area stated that the suspect, identified as Bishaar Mohamed, is a Yemeni national.

The forces added that the man was unarmed and had fled from the Shankaala base in the Baalade valley, which serves as a command center for the Islamic State group.

Meanwhile, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced that on February 16 it carried out an airstrike against ISIS militants in Somalia.

AFRICOM said the airstrike took place in the Al-miskaad Mountains, approximately 70 kilometers southeast of the city of Bosaso, but declined to provide further details about the operation.

In recent weeks, several ISIS members—mostly foreign nationals—have surrendered to Puntland forces.

Puntland recently stated that it has changed its military strategy against ISIS, shifting from direct combat to a strategy of encirclement.