BOSASO, Somalia — At least five Islamic State militants were killed in U.S.-supported airstrikes in northern Somalia’s Puntland State region, local military officials said, as counterterrorism operations intensify in the Cal-Miskaad mountains and move into what authorities describe as their final phase.
The strikes hit targets Saturday in the Barakalah area of Baallade Valley, a rugged corridor in the Cal-Miskaad range where Puntland State security forces have been battling ISIS cells for months. The fatalities were reported by Puntland State’s military command, which said air support was provided by U.S. Africa Command in coordination with local troops. Casualty figures could not be independently verified.
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Puntland State officials say the latest action follows weeks of pressure in which fighters have been pushed into tighter pockets, with several killed and dozens surrendering to security forces. Despite advances, there have been no confirmed sightings of the group’s top leaders, underscoring concerns that senior figures may have evaded the cordon or are hiding among remaining cells.
Local authorities said planning is underway for a final assault to dismantle the militants’ holdouts in the mountains, a long-standing sanctuary that offers natural cover and limited access. The United Arab Emirates has also worked with Puntland State units alongside U.S. support, officials said.
What we know
- At least five ISIS militants were killed Saturday in the Barakalah area of Baallade Valley, according to Puntland State’s military.
- U.S. Africa Command provided aerial support; UAE partners have assisted local forces.
- Officials say the operation in the Cal-Miskaad mountains has entered its final phase, with a planned last assault.
- Troops report militants increasingly confined, though top leaders have not been sighted.
Commanders involved in the push say earlier phases focused on finding small, mobile groups in difficult terrain, a challenge that slowed rapid gains. The concentrated strikes and ground sweeps of recent weeks suggest fighters are now being cornered, though authorities caution that isolated cells remain dangerous and capable of launching ambushes.
The U.S. military has long provided aerial surveillance and precision strikes in support of Somali operations against violent extremist groups. In northern Somalia, however, the Somali National Army has largely remained inactive, leaving Puntland State-led units to conduct most of the ground campaign, officials said.
Somalia faces parallel insurgencies from ISIS and the larger al-Shabaab movement. Analysts say that even with tactical wins, the broader fight could extend as militants adapt, disperse, or regroup in remote terrain. Public frustration has grown over what critics describe as uneven government results against insurgents despite international backing.
Authorities in Puntland State have not provided details on potential arrests or captured materiel from the latest strike. Additional updates are expected as forces seek to consolidate gains and prepare for what they describe as a final push to clear remaining hideouts in the Cal-Miskaad range.
This is a developing story.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
