UN Security Council says Puntland operations have weakened Islamic State in Somalia

GAROWE Somalia — The United Nations Security Council has said Islamic State militants in Somalia have been significantly weakened following military operations by Puntland forces in the Cal-Miskaad mountains, which pushed the group out of key areas it had controlled for years.

A new Security Council report estimates that Islamic State in Somalia now has between 150 and 250 fighters, including its leader, Abdulqadir Mumin, and his deputy, Abdirahman Faahiye.

The estimate represents a sharp decline from previous assessments. In 2025, then-U.S. Africa Command chief General Michael Langley said the group had between 1,200 and 1,500 fighters.

The decline in the group's strength has been attributed to ground operations by Puntland forces and airstrikes carried out by the United States against Islamic State positions.

The report also indicates that more than 900 Islamic State fighters have been killed in military operations against the group since early 2025.

Puntland forces have conducted sustained operations against Islamic State in the Cal-Miskaad mountain range in the Bari region, targeting the group's bases, supply routes and fighters.

The military campaign has significantly reduced the territory and operational space available to the group, according to the assessment.

Despite the losses, Islamic State in Somalia remains a security threat, with its leadership structure still intact and fighters continuing to operate in remote mountainous areas.

The group has established a presence in Puntland over the past decade and has attracted foreign militants to its ranks, according to previous assessments by Somali and international security officials.

The latest estimate highlights the impact of Puntland's ground campaign, combined with U.S. air support, on the group's ability to operate in northern Somalia.

However, the continued presence of senior Islamic State leaders, including Mumin, suggests that the group retains the capacity to reorganise and carry out attacks despite its reduced numbers.

Security operations against Islamic State are expected to remain a major focus for Puntland authorities as they seek to prevent the group from rebuilding its forces and regaining territory.

The assessment comes as Somalia continues to face threats from both Islamic State and Al-Shabaab, the country's largest armed Islamist group, amid ongoing military operations aimed at weakening militant networks.

The United States has conducted airstrikes against both militant groups in Somalia, while Somali and regional forces continue ground operations against their positions.

The Security Council's assessment points to a substantial weakening of Islamic State in Somalia but indicates that the group has not been eliminated and remains capable of posing a security threat.

GAROWE ONLINE