Islamic

It was a crisp morning on February 4th, when history unfolded in the rugged terrains of Northeastern State, Somalia. As dawn broke, the air rippled with tension—the prelude to a fierce battle between Northeastern State's resilient forces and the entrenched militants of the Islamic State. The militants responded with a fury of drones, suicide attacks, and infantry charges, determined to hold their ground. But the drama had only just begun. By sundown, the scene near the village of Qurac had…

In an obscure corner of the world, far from the eye of most international media, the Al-Karrar office has metamorphosed into something more sinister—a financial command center crafted intricately for the Islamic State’s sprawling empire, extending its dark reach from Afghanistan to Mozambique. Picture a warren of clandestine activities where ancient hawala networks blur seamlessly with cutting-edge cryptocurrency transactions, a place surviving on the gritty art of extortion. Entire economies within these insurgent zones…

Global Shift: Is Abdul Qadir Mumin Leading the Islamic State? Mogadishu (AX) — The quiet hum of intelligence networks across nations is singling out a name with increasing urgency: Abdul Qadir Mumin. Rumblings echo that Mumin, erstwhile leader of IS-Somalia, may have ascended to worldwide command of the Islamic State (IS) network. Could this signify a strategic directional shift for a militant group long anchored in the heart of the Middle East? According to an incisive United Nations Sanctions…

U.S. Airstrikes Target Islamic State in Somalia WASHINGTON — In the enigmatic expanse of Somalia's Golis Mountains, a U.S. military operation unfolded earlier this month with precision and strategic acumen. The airstrikes, orchestrated against the ever-elusive Islamic State, have achieved a significant milestone, according to the latest assessment from U.S. military officials. Late Tuesday, the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced the demise of Ahmed Maeleninine, a notorious architect of terror,…

BALIDHIDIN, Somalia — A lone figure lay on the sun-drenched ridge, a fallen Islamic State combatant, as Somali soldiers, heavily armed and determined, wound their way to a distant cavern. Their progress brought them to a new frontier against the global menace of the Islamic State. In the semi-autonomous region of Northeastern State, the threat has been growing. Foreign militants arrive in torrents, and these hostile infiltrators have turned Somalia into a pivotal launching pad for radical operations. By their side, money…

FILE - A solitary figure, a security officer, traverses through Balidhidin village, nestled in the rugged terrain of Northeastern State’s Bari region, Somalia, on an unusually cool January 26, 2025. A mere fortnight later, on February 11, 2025, Somali officials somberly announced a catastrophic attack by the Islamic State on a Northeastern State military base that claimed nearly 100 lives. Imagine the chaos: Almost 100 individuals meeting an untimely demise, and around 60 others bearing injuries, as the notorious Islamic…

Villa Somalia's Anti-Al-Shabaab Campaign: Genuine Move or Overshadowing Northeastern State? EDITORIAL | Within the intricate tapestry of Somalia's political chess game, a noteworthy pivot in strategy has emerged. The Federal Government has recently embarked on a vibrant yet enigmatic media campaign against the Al-Shabaab insurgents. It's a move laden with a mixture of strategy and intrigue, potentially designed to shift the narrative in a land where words sometimes wield more potency than swords. But why now, and what of…

Senior Islamic State Somalia Commander Captured in Northeastern State In the rugged landscape of the Cal Miskaad mountains, a shocking event unfolded; Abdirahman Shirwac Aw-Saciid, a senior commander within the Islamic State's Somalia faction, chose to lay down arms and surrender. His insurgent legacy was most notorious for two reasons: ruthless assassinations and coercive extraction of wealth from local businesses. As the local headlines buzz with this arrest, who exactly was "Laahoor,"…

WASHINGTON — It was a grim scene over two relentless days of tumult in Somalia’s Northeastern State territory where recent skirmishes claimed the lives of over 20 individuals and left a further ten nursing battle scars. The security forces clashed with Islamic State insurgents in a fierce showdown, as shared by officials on Tuesday. Speaking to VOA’s Somali Service, the steely Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, who orchestrates Northeastern State's security responses, painted a stark picture of the skirmish. He…

BOSASO, Somalia - In the rugged terrains of the Bari region, a fierce battle unfolded between the Northeastern State Security Forces and Islamic State fighters, leaving a trail of sorrow in its wake. Over 20 souls, unfortunately, were claimed in a conflict that has intensified under the sweltering Somali sun. The fight against extremist forces was not devoid of valor though, as clear gains were made by the Northeastern State forces, reclaiming significant terrain from the rebels over a grueling week of combat.…