Puntland

In Puntland State’s Cal-Miskaad, a puncture wound to ISIS — and a reminder of unfinished war BOSASO, Somalia — For nearly a year, Puntland State’s counterterrorism forces have methodically pushed into the mazelike caves and dry riverbeds of the Cal‑Miskaad Mountains, chipping away at an ISIS presence that once projected violence across Somalia’s northeastern corridor. This weekend’s operation — which local commanders say captured two key spring sites and netted a foreign fighter — is being framed in Puntland State as proof…

U.S. carries out airstrike on ISIS in Puntland State amid broader campaign in Somalia MOGADISHU — The U.S. military said Tuesday that it conducted an airstrike on Islamic State militants in Somalia’s rugged Al‑Miskaad mountains, continuing a pattern of remote strikes aimed at degrading extremist groups in the Horn of Africa. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the late‑September operation occurred on Sept. 26 in a remote area roughly 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Bossaso, the bustling port city at the heart of…

Puntland State says it killed ISIS cell blamed for landmine that slain senior commander GAROWE, Somalia — Puntland State’s regional forces say they killed seven Islamic State fighters and captured one more in a mountain sweep on Sunday, striking a cell accused of planting the landmine that killed Brig. Gen. Qalyare, one of the region’s most senior officers, last week. The operation unfolded in the Dhasan area of the Cal Miskaad range, a jagged spine of rock and scrubland along Somalia’s northeast. In a brief statement,…

Has Puntland State turned the tide against Islamic State? A closer look at President Deni’s claims What the president said In a recent televised interview, Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni delivered a blunt assessment of a years‑long counter‑insurgency: he said his forces have “severely weakened” Islamic State in the northeastern Somali region of Bari, claiming more than 2,000 fighters — many foreign nationals — who once operated from the Cal Miskaad mountain range have been “largely neutralized.” Deni…

Senior Puntland State commander killed by explosion during anti-ISIS operation BOSASO, Somalia — A senior commander in Puntland State’s counter‑terrorism forces was killed Monday when an explosive device detonated during a sweep of rugged mountains where Islamic State fighters have been hiding, regional officials said. General Ahmed Ali Qarjab, widely known by the nom de guerre “Qalyare,” was serving as commander of Puntland State’s 2nd Battalion when the blast struck in Dhasaan, in the Al‑Miskaad mountain range. Puntland…

Somali traders count losses after cargo ship bound for Bosaso burns in Indian port Rapid response, heavy losses BOSASO — A commercial vessel chartered by traders in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland State state caught fire early on Monday while anchored off Porbandar in India’s Gujarat state, leaving burned cargo, a shaken crew and questions about the fragility of food supply chains that stretch from South Asia to the Horn of Africa. The ship, identified by Indian authorities as Jamnagar and reportedly operated by HRM and…

U.S. Praise in Bosaso, Local Anger in Sanaag: A Test of Counter‑ISIS Strategy in Somalia BOSASO, Somalia — In a carefully choreographed visit this past weekend, senior U.S. officials flew into Puntland State’s bustling port city of Bosaso to laud the region’s role in combating Islamic State fighters and protecting Somalia’s northern maritime approaches. The delegation — led by Ambassador Richard Riley and including Major General Claude Tudor and the head of U.S. special operations in East Africa, Colonel Benander — met with…

Puntland State’s Resilience: A New Dawn in the Fight Against ISIS MOGADISHU, Somalia — As the sun rises over the rugged landscapes of Puntland State, the echoes of a different kind of warfare resonate across the Al-Miskad Mountains. In recent weeks, the region has emerged as a frontline in the battle against ISIS, drawing both local and international attention. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson has lauded Puntland State’s impressive strides in counterterrorism efforts, a move that could be a…

Somalia's Puntland State Forces Stand Strong in the Fight Against ISIS BOSASO, Somalia - As the desolate sands of the Cal-Miskaad mountains stretch across northeastern Somalia, a determined wave of Puntland State forces is rewriting the confrontational narrative that has marred this region for years. Following the activation of Operation Hillaac, these brave soldiers have engaged ISIS militants in a series of decisive clashes, culminating in a sustained offensive that has intensified in recent weeks. Strategic Gains in a…

Northeastern State Refutes Allegations; Labels FGS’s Oil Exploration Accusations as "Outlandish" AXADLE, Somalia - In a war of words, Northeastern State has fiercely denied any opposition to Somalia's oil exploration efforts, scoffing at what it calls the "preposterous and baseless accusations" from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). Northeastern State remains committed to the nation's stability and growth. Abdifitah Mohamed Nur, Northeastern State's minister of state and top aide in presidential affairs,…