BOSASO, Somalia — U.S. special operations forces, working with Puntland State’s Counter-Terrorism Forces, mounted a helicopter-borne raid on an Islamic State enclave in the Cal-Miskaad mountains on Tuesday, killing senior leaders and capturing fighters, according to U.S. Africa Command and Puntland State officials.
The joint operation struck targets in Baallade Valley, with troops assaulting the HabarBajuuke cave complex after an exchange of fire with militants from IS-Somalia, officials said. U.S. Africa Command said the mission was supported by 10 helicopters and involved coordinated ground and air combat as forces inserted into rugged terrain to reach the hideout.
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The raid unfolded over several hours and included a U.S. ground deployment in support of Puntland State units as they pressed a planned assault on militant positions. Local officials said this was the first time U.S. forces have conducted an operation inside Puntland State.
“In the Calmiskaad area, high-value ISIS targets were struck in a joint air and ground operation carried out by Puntland State’s U.S. partners supporting the ongoing mission. Further details will be shared in due course,” Puntland State’s Counter-Terrorism Forces said in a statement.
Initial reporting from the scene indicates a significant number of ISIS fighters were killed and several others were captured. Authorities said they would release more details on casualties and detainees once assessments are complete.
The Cal-Miskaad range, stretching along Somalia’s northeast coast, has been the epicenter of Puntland State’s campaign against IS-Somalia. Over the past year, Puntland State officials say dozens of fighters — including foreign nationals — have either surrendered or been detained during sustained operations in the mountains.
Tuesday’s raid underscores continued counterterrorism pressure against IS-Somalia’s entrenched cells in the remote Cal-Miskaad strongholds. The area’s caves and steep ravines have long served as a refuge for militant leaders and a staging ground for attacks, prompting periodic offensives by Puntland State forces with international backing.
U.S. Africa Command did not immediately provide a full accounting of the operation. Standard assessments typically follow such raids to determine the impact on militant networks and to rule out civilian harm. Puntland State authorities said the mission targeted “high-value” figures and key facilitators who have helped sustain the group’s foothold in the region.
The joint action near Bosaso highlights the security stakes in northeastern Somalia, where IS-Somalia has maintained a smaller but resilient presence compared with al-Shabab. While the group’s numbers are limited, its leadership has used mountainous sanctuaries to survive crackdowns and to coordinate extortion, recruitment, and cross-border logistics in the Horn of Africa.
Officials said follow-on operations are likely as security forces push deeper into the Cal-Miskaad mountains. Additional updates are expected once battlefield reporting is consolidated.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
