MOGADISHU, Somalia – The intricate tapestry of war in Somalia gains another layer, as the United States reaffirms its commitment to supporting Northeastern State in its arduous battle against ISIS militants. Just a stone’s throw from pulling its troops, the Pentagon seemingly pauses, readying to bolster efforts alongside allies. As a senior Pentagon member whispered to the VOA, “We are here, and we are stepping up our game.”

In recent skirmishes, both the United Arab Emirates and the US Africa Command lunged to Northeastern State’s aid, unleashing aerial fury upon ISIS strongholds nestled within the craggy Cal-Miskaad mountains. This synergy has scorched 16 militants from the annals of terror, including one Ahmed Maeleninine—a recruiter and financier, a man whose shadow darkened areas beyond Somalia, reaching into the heartlands of Europe and the United States.

Yet, the endgame isn’t quite clear. Washington dials up whispers of more aid while Northeastern State makes a solo vow of intensified efforts, even as Somalia’s federal apparatus casts a reticent shadow. The Department of Defense vehemently voices, “Our partnership aims at disrupting, degrading, and one day, defeating these treacherous groups in the Horn of Africa.”

One has to wonder, when does grit turn to triumph? Hope is murmured among observers who note, “Somalia’s forces, with bolstered U.S. and UAE support, seem finally to see progress.” One haunting question remains, will they hold the land they wrench from ISIS grip? Or, like sand through a sieve, will it slip back?

If they manage, the implications could ripple across continents. With most of ISIS’ training grounds fallen, Northeastern State forces spearhead towards liberating the state. This liberation holds promise; disrupting the al-Karrar node could rattle even the farthest ISIS echelons, unsettling their financial lifeblood rippling towards Afghanistan and beyond.

Yet, caution blares from regional experts warning of a regrouping if vigilance wanes. Analyst Samira Gaid punctuates the conversation, “Northeastern State’s mobile special forces sharpen the fight’s edge. Resourced and committed they are,” she continues, “but securing liberated territories is pivotal to sidestep future resurgence.”

Meanwhile, ISIS plays an old hand, fading into the civilian milieu when pressure mounts—a predictable yet formidable guerrilla tactic. Northeastern State’s leader, Said Abdullahi Deni, takes an unorthodox approach, extending olive branches to foot soldiers and civilians in ISIS’s fold. This very human offer: surrender and live, and for foreign agents—the possibility of repatriation.

It’s a strategic gambit, a bid to destabilize a foe that sees the rugged landscapes of Somalia as ideal obfuscations. As Deni insightfully admits, “They envisioned this to be their unseen fortress, granting them reach over the Indian Ocean and nearby gulfs.”

The mission’s zenith, it seems, is a capture—and significant it might be—of one Abdulkadir Mumin, the shadowy kingpin of this ISIS sect. Recent tales spun differently, suggesting his demise in the shadow of U.S. drone blasts in May 2024, though these accounts now spiral in doubt.