U.S. Special Forces, Puntland State hit ISIS hideout in Somalia’s Balade Valley

US Special Forces andPuntland Statecounterterrorism units on Wednesday carried out a coordinated raid on an ISIS hideout in Somalia’s Balade Valley, unleashing hours of gunfire and precision drone strikes that killed a senior commander and several militants, according to security sources.

The joint operation inserted dozens of US troops by MH-60 helicopters and used MQ-9 Reaper drones to hit targets across the Habarbakuuje and Mareero areas of the valley, where intelligence indicated a fortified base was housing 10 to 15 ISIS fighters. The gun battle lasted between two and four hours, and initial assessments point to the presence of foreign fighters from Syria, Turkey and Ethiopia among those engaged.

Security sources said a senior ISIS commander and several aides were killed in the assault, with 5 to 10 militant deaths confirmed so far. The forces also destroyed a cache of weapons and equipment tied to the group’s gold-mining operations in the region—an income stream that has helped sustain ISIS activity in Puntland State’s rugged interior.

Authorities did not immediately release the identity of the commander, and a full damage and casualty assessment was still underway late Wednesday. There were no immediate reports of civilian casualties from the remote, mountainous theater of operations.

The raid highlights a tightening campaign against ISIS in Puntland State, where the regional administration has pledged to eradicate the group by the end of 2025. US support—centered on airstrikes, surveillance and intelligence-sharing in hard-to-reach terrain—has pressured militants to abandon positions and retreat into isolated hideouts across the Bari region and beyond.

Wednesday’s action in the Balade Valley fits a pattern of coordinated sweeps aimed at degrading ISIS command nodes, revenue sources and cross-border recruitment pipelines. Security sources said the targeted base served as a logistics hub and staging point, protected by fortifications and natural cover, which helped explain the length and intensity of the firefight.

While the operation’s immediate objective appears to have been achieved, officials cautioned that ISIS cells in Puntland State are agile and dispersed, relying on cash and materiel from illicit mining and smuggling networks. Disrupting those financial lifelines remains a priority alongside strikes on leadership and training sites.

As of late Wednesday, joint forces were continuing post-operation clearance in the Habarbakuuje and Mareero corridors, searching for remaining weapons, documents and electronic equipment that could provide insight into ISIS command relationships and future targets. Further updates on casualties and captured materiel are expected as agencies complete their assessments.

• Location: Balade Valley, in Puntland State’s mountainous interior
• Forces involved: US Special Forces and Puntland State counterterrorism units
• Tactics: MH-60 helicopter insertions; MQ-9 Reaper precision strikes
• Targets: Fortified ISIS base tied to gold-mining finance operations
• Casualties: Senior ISIS commander and several aides among an estimated 5–10 militant deaths

The Puntland State administration maintains that sustained joint operations will continue in the coming weeks as part of the region’s 2025 deadline to dismantle ISIS presence and deny the militants sanctuary in the state’s mountainous valleys.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.