BOSASO, Somalia – In a dazzling display of precision and courage, Operation Lightning struck decisively across the rugged terrains of eastern Northeastern State, sparking joyous celebrations among local forces who toasted to their hard-earned victory in the Bari region. As they paused to savor this triumphant moment, they did so knowing they had delivered a staggering blow to ISIS by liberating dozens of previously oppressed villages.
Picture this: Jubilant forces flooding social media with clips of their reclamation of Ildab, once the very nerve center of ISIS’s sinister operations nestled amidst the untamed Almiskaad mountains. This risky snatch-and-grab didn’t just snatch territory—it choked off crucial supply chains, leaving those fearsome hills of the Bari region echoing with the silence of abandoned enemy hopes.
Battering through resistance, like a determined chef mastering a stubborn recipe, Northeastern State’s valiant forces claimed the scalps of at least 13 ISIS militants over a relentless two-day push deeper into the Al-Miskaad mountains—a shadow-haunted fortress that had enticed adventurers of terror from across seas. So, where do they stand now? Clear pathways in and out for the forces, but more importantly, clear heads for the community.
Friday wasn’t an ordinary day, was it? A foreign would-be saboteur met his fate before he could test the patience of Bosaso’s proud defenders. Attempting his mischief amidst the green serenity of a garden near Alnakhiil, his dastardly landmine erupted in a fruitless “bang” of panic as security forces closed in. There he fell, defeated swiftly, with his ambitions scattered like the seeds he tried to plant.
No one besides the nefarious plotter bore the brunt of this explosive end—a relief, isn’t it, that lingers amidst the dust of Al-Miskaad’s long-waged battles. For weeks, perhaps feeling like centuries in the conflict-fatigued air, Northeastern State forces have been tenaciously locking horns with ISIS under the watchful gaze of both elders and the universe.
Dug deep within the skeletal embrace of the Cal-Miskaad peaks, Ildab had served as a vital artery for conveying weapons and supplies, a clandestine haven for militants-in-training. The meticulous, well-drawn assault by Northeastern State’s elite squadrons has shredded this web of extremism like an overconfident magician’s ill-fated trick.
The sprawling shadow of terror threatened the patchwork of peace painstakingly woven by Northeastern State’s leadership. Yet, with a flurry of triumphant courage and commitment, those shadows have been chased away, leaving warmth and light to seep into the lives of ordinary citizens dreaming of normalcy. With both the populace and government applauding this substantial blow against extremism, there’s a renewed pledge to carry the torch of regional stability and peace forward.
An exuberant Said Abdullahi Deni, the ever-resilient president of Northeastern State, championed the endeavor as a cornerstone in his broader blueprint to fortify Northeastern State—often hailed as a bastion of calm amid Somalia’s turbulence. “No more shadows,” he seemed to say, with an unyielding focus on extinguishing the ominous flicker of Al-Shabaab’s creeping menace in southern kin provinces.
Let’s not forget, each step taken on this journey is felt deeply across the waves that connect our world. In the tranquil echo of success and in the whisper of wind brushing the mountains, lies a message of hope; that with resolve and unity, peace can be mined from the densest of darkness.
Report By Axadle
