Somalia: Puntland forces seize last ISIS hideout, detain two Somali fighters

GAROWE, Somalia — Puntland defense forces have taken control of the Marragade well, the last known position of Islamic State (ISIS) militants in the Baallade valley of Al-Miskaad mountains of Somalia’s northeastern Bari region, officials said Saturday.

A Puntland military officer said that troops launched an operation early in the day, pushing ISIS fighters to flee the area. The offensive came several days after heavy airstrikes targeted caves used by the group in the valley.

In a separate development, Puntland authorities said they apprehended two Somali members of ISIS — Maadeey Hussein Ibrahim and Hassan Ibrahim Abdirahman — after the pair contacted security forces on Friday night and asked to surrender.

The two men were among a small number of Somali fighters who had been sheltering in the Baallade valley. Security officials presented the detainees near the village of Yalho, about 40 kilometers from the coastal city of Bosaso.

The latest gains come as Puntland prepares to announce later this month the completion of a yearlong offensive aimed at dismantling ISIS operations in the region.

GAROWE ONLINE