BOSASO (Kaab TV) – A joint counter-terrorism operation by U.S. forces and Puntland security units has led to the capture of Abdiweli Mohamed Aw Yusuf, also known as Abdiweli Walalac, a top ISIS-Somalia commander responsible for foreign liaison and finance.
Puntland counter-terrorism officials confirmed the arrest on Friday, stating that Abdiweli was captured along with two others in Laag, a remote area in Xumbeys district.
The operation was conducted with support from U.S. partners assisting Puntland’s ongoing fight against terrorist groups.
“Abdiweli Mohamed Aw Yusuf was captured with two others in Laag, Xumbeys. The operation was carried out by Puntland’s U.S.🇺🇸 partners supporting Puntland’s Counter-Terrorism Operations,” the counter-terror unit said in a statement.
Authorities described Abdiweli as a Puntland-born militant who rose through the ranks of ISIS-Somalia in recent months, taking over key financial and foreign coordination roles as the group expanded its funding networks inside the country.
The arrest is part of the broader Calmiskaad Operation, which officials say is now nearing its final phase.
A manhunt continues for other ISIS fighters and commanders who fled during the offensive.
Ahmed Yusuf Osman, the District Commissioner of Xumbeys, confirmed that Abdiweli is currently in the custody of Puntland security agencies.
This latest capture comes just weeks after Puntland forces apprehended a Turkish-born ISIS fighter who had been hiding in the mountainous region, underscoring the ongoing regional effort to dismantle ISIS operations in Somalia.