The military operation dubbed “Hillaac (Blitz),” Puntland Defense Forces are making substantial advances against ISIS positions in Somalia’s Cal Miskaat Mountains, marking a potential turning point in the region’s fight against terrorism.
The offensive, which began in late December 2024, has continued to progress despite ISIS’s attempts to halt the advance. On New Year’s Eve, the terrorist group launched a suicide attack using foreign fighters from the Middle East and East Africa but failed to significantly impede the military campaign.
Recent developments showcase the operation’s momentum. In the latest push, Puntland forces successfully neutralized seven bomb-laden commercial drones and cleared ten landmines planted by ISIS. The forces also destroyed five ISIS bases in the Il and Ameera areas and are now advancing toward the strategically important Jeceel Valley, which serves as a crucial water source for the terrorist group.
The offensive has received apparent external support, with two drone strikes targeting ISIS positions this week. The source of these airstrikes remains undisclosed, with no claim of responsibility from the U.S. government.
Military officials report unexpectedly weak resistance from ISIS fighters. “We have seen men fleeing who cannot face our forces. They are retreating toward the large mountains near Qandala,” a Puntland military officer stated. Current intelligence suggests ISIS’s presence in the area may have been overestimated, with sources indicating fewer than 800 militants remain, many having fled before the operation began.
The terrorist group’s retreat has raised questions about their strategy, as they now find themselves cornered between the mountains and the Red Sea. This unusual behavior deviates from typical guerrilla tactics employed by such groups, which typically favor ambushes over direct confrontation.
ISIS has maintained control of the Cal Miskaat Mountains since 2015, establishing the base after splitting from Al-Shabaab. The group has primarily sustained itself through extortion of Somali businesses, with UN monitoring reports indicating 2022 as their most profitable year. These funds have reportedly been channeled to ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan.
The ongoing operation represents one of the most significant challenges to ISIS’s presence in the region since their establishment of the mountain stronghold, potentially marking a crucial shift in regional security dynamics.
HORSEED MEDIA
