Security forces intensify operations in Bari region following last year’s HILAAC offensive.
BOSASO, Somalia — Security forces in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region have captured a suspected foreign fighter linked to the Islamic State group during ongoing military operations in the Al-Miskaad mountain range, officials said.
According to a statement from the HILAAC operation command, Puntland defense forces apprehended the individual at midnight in the Tasjiic area, which is part of a broader zone under siege in the Al-Miskaad mountains in the Bari region. Authorities described the suspect as a foreign national affiliated with ISIS but did not disclose his identity or nationality.
The capture comes as Puntland forces continue an extended campaign aimed at dismantling militant hideouts in the rugged Al-Miskaad terrain. The region has long been considered a strategic stronghold for ISIS-linked fighters operating in northeastern Somalia.
Officials say the ongoing operation builds on the momentum of last year’s HILAAC offensive, which significantly weakened the group’s presence in the area. Security forces have maintained pressure on remaining cells believed to be entrenched in remote mountainous locations.
Separately, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that it conducted an airstrike on February 16 targeting ISIS hideouts in the Al-Miskaad mountains. In a statement, AFRICOM said the strike occurred approximately 70 kilometers southeast of the port city of Bosaso.
The U.S. military did not provide details regarding casualties or the extent of damage resulting from the airstrike.
The Al-Miskaad mountains, located in Puntland’s Bari region, have served as a base for ISIS-Somalia fighters in recent years, prompting repeated ground operations by local forces and periodic airstrikes by U.S. military assets.
Puntland authorities have pledged to continue their operations until militant elements are fully removed from the area, emphasizing ongoing coordination with international partners in counterterrorism efforts.
Further details about the captured suspect and the outcome of the airstrike have not yet been released.
