Northeastern State Troops and UAE Airstrikes Eliminate 44 ISIS Militants in Significant Operation
Mogadishu (AX) – In the rugged terrain of the Al-Miskaad Mountains, where silence is broken only by whispers of the wind, a dramatic clash unfolded. Over the past week, Northeastern State’s security forces, aided by UAE airstrikes, embarked on a meticulously coordinated counterterrorism operation. Their target? Insidious pockets of ISIS militants lurking in these highlands, hidden in plain sight for years.
From a bird’s-eye view, the operation might seem like an intense chess game played over harsh landscapes. As part of Northeastern State’s relentless “Hillaac” campaign, both land assaults and aerial bombardments descended with precision on insurgents entrenched in the Togga-Jecel enclave. These militants, seeking sanctuary, faced an unyielding assault as they were slowly pushed back by determined forces.
One can almost picture the scene: determined soldiers, fueled by a sense of unwavering mission, navigating through these perilous mountains. In a fierce three-hour skirmish, the villages of Dhaqas, Qurac, and Damdamale saw a flurry of activity. Here, at least 15 militants met their end, including several foreigners, revealing the international strands of the insurgency. “These mountainous bases served as their sanctuaries, but we have pierced through their defenses,” confided a Northeastern State security official, choosing to remain unnamed as many do in such shadowy operations.
Meanwhile, high above, UAE warplanes swooped in with surgical precision. In mere minutes, two airstrikes dramatically shifted the equilibrium. Near the now-quiet village of Damdamale, 22 militants fell in the first assault. A subsequent barrage in Togga-Jecel took the lives of seven more. One wonders about the narratives of those involved: the pilots in their cockpits, perhaps reflecting on the surreal landscape unfolding below.
Yet, this victorious operation is not merely a tale of military might but of cooperation and resolve. “The synergy between our local forces and international allies is dismantling these terrorist infrastructures,” Northeastern State representatives commendably noted. The tangible impact of their collaboration showcases the potential of such partnerships in addressing global security threats.
Dialogue across this northeastern region of Somalia often circles back to this elephant in the room: When will ISIS’s shadow finally disappear from their beloved lands? Northeastern State has firmly committed to persevering until the very roots of the insurgents are unearthed. “Our mission continues unwaveringly,” a government communique stated with stoic resolve. “We are dismantling their strongholds, severing their lifelines, and ensuring they no longer haunt our lands.”
ISIS, having broken away from Al-Shabaab in 2015, took refuge amidst Northeastern State’s forbidding mountains. Over the years, these insurgents orchestrated sinister activities: targeted assassinations, brazen extortion, and emboldened assaults on security forces. Their presence felt like an omnipresent ghostly inkblot seeping through the region, until now.
As with any conflict, the human element is ever-present. A local shopkeeper from a nearby town, Yusuf, shared during one hazy afternoon his cautious optimism: “We hope, and we mend. We have lived these stories, and now, may peace find us.” Such personal testimonies weave texture into the narrative, offering a glimpse into the silent resilience of a people longing for stability.
The broader question remains: Can ongoing operations completely eradicate the threat that seems as tenacious as the mountains themselves? As Northeastern State forges ahead, buoyed by steadfast allies, their people are hopeful. The air feels charged with promise, a promise of a dawn unmarred by fear.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring
