Somalia‘s security forces have reported the killing of several Islamic State fighters and the seizure of eight terrorist outposts during ongoing military operations in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northern Somalia.
Although the Islamic State has a relatively small footprint in Somalia compared to the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab, experts have raised concerns about its increasing activities.
Last year, a United Nations counter-terrorism official cautioned against a rise in attacks carried out by Islamic State affiliates in Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia.
Monday’s operation by Somali forces focused on the Cal Miskat mountains within the Bari region. According to a statement by the Puntland army, security forces successfully took control of eight IS military outposts, including a key base in the Cal Miskat mountains. The statement added that several fighters, including foreign operatives, were killed in the offensive.
Additionally, the army reported shooting down nine drones loaded with explosives, which Islamic State militants had attempted to use to attack and detonate on security forces during the clashes.
“The security forces are advancing onto key hideouts of the terrorists to flush them out,” the statement read.
A military commander in the region, Ahmed Rage, revealed that intense fighting was taking place as IS militants had entrenched themselves in a cave within the mountains. However, he noted that the army was making significant progress and continuing to push forward into the stronghold positions.
Experts and officials have identified Abdul Qadir Mumin, a native of Puntland, as the leader of the Islamic State faction in Somalia. Tore Hamming, from the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR), described him as “the most significant and powerful figure controlling the global Islamic State network.”
