Somalia: Puntland Forces Kill Over 40 Militants in Major Blow to ISIS

Members of the Puntland Counter-Terrorism Forces who have been fighting Islamic State fighters, killing several of them in the Calmiskaad mountains: (Photo: Puntland Counter-Terrorism Operations)

BOSASO, Somalia - As the third phase of operations against ISIS militants starts in northern Somalia, the Puntland Defense Forces killed over 40 fighters, Saturday, officials said, in a move that further weakens the group, which is fighting to control the region.

The Puntland forces are working closely with the US Africa Command and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the crackdown, with the two partners providing important aerial surveillance operations, which are critical in seizing strategic bases.

According to military officials, the latest operation targeted ISIS bases in the Togga Miraale area within the Bari region, where the militants have reportedly been hiding since the operation Lightning was initiated earlier this year.

“Our forces dealt a decisive blow to the terrorists, clearing key command sites and reclaiming strategic ground,” General Mohamed Mohamud Faadhigo, spokesperson for the operation, told reporters. “Togga Miiraale had long served as one of their last major refuges.”

The offensive also effectively foiled a planned suicide attack by the militants, who were going after the Puntland military base within the expansive mountainous Cal-Miskaad region. The attack disrupted the militants' activities, officials noted.

Military commanders described the area’s complex geography, deep gorges, and steep mountain ranges as a longtime advantage for militants seeking cover. But the success provided yet another important victory for the group, officials added.

“Togga Miiraale will be remembered as the place where ISIS met its final defeat in Somalia,” one commander said, noting that a third phase of the offensive is now underway to eliminate remaining cells scattered across the region.

Puntland is fighting to eliminate the ISIS militants within the Bari region, which is a gateway to the strategic commercial capital of Puntland — Bosaso, which is situated along the Indian Ocean coastline in Somalia. The ISIS militants pose a huge threat to Somalia’s stability, according to the State Department.

GAROWE ONLINE