Garowe, Puntland – In a significant blow to the Islamic State’s presence in Somalia, the Puntland Security Forces (PSF) announced the capture of two foreign Daesh fighters believed to have survived a recent U.S. airstrike in the northeastern region of the country.
A statement released by the PSF on Saturday identified the apprehended militants as Imraan Mohamed Alawi and Mabruuk Nassor Saidi, both Tanzanian nationals. Acting on a tip, security forces pursued and captured the suspects approximately 30 kilometers away from the location targeted in last week’s airstrike.
The joint Somali-U.S. aerial bombardment, which took place near the town of Dhaadaar, around 81 kilometers southeast of Bosaso, reportedly eliminated three Islamic State (IS)-Somalia fighters operating in the remote area.
The Islamic State branch in Somalia, also known as IS-Somalia or Daesh, maintains its primary stronghold within the semi-autonomous region of Puntland. These militants have engaged in sporadic clashes with both Puntland security forces and the Al-Shabaab insurgent group, which controls large swaths of southern Somalia.
The capture of the two Tanzanian fighters by Puntland authorities represents a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat the influence of armed groups in the region. Authorities will likely interrogate the detainees to gather intelligence on the group’s operations and potential future attack plans.
Despite sustained counterterrorism operations by Somali forces and international allies, including the United States and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the threat posed by IS-Somalia and Al-Shabaab persists, underscoring the ongoing challenges in achieving lasting stability in the Horn of Africa nation.
