Somalia: Puntland leads the fight against ISIS in the Cal Miskaad Mountains

BOSASO, Somalia - A recent report by The Washington Post provides an in-depth look at the escalating battle in Somalia’s northern mountains, where Puntland forces are locked in a fierce confrontation with ISIS militants. Journalists from the publication visited the conflict zone, witnessing firsthand the intensity of the fight and the growing challenges faced by local forces.

The Cal Miskaad mountain range, long considered a strategic hideout for extremist groups, has become the epicentre of a prolonged battle between Puntland’s security forces and well-armed ISIS fighters. With little external support, Puntland has shouldered the burden of combating a growing threat that not only destabilizes the region but also funds global terrorist networks.

Battlefield without international support

Puntland’s forces, wearing camouflage fatigues and heavily armed, moved through the rocky terrain as they advanced toward fortified caves used by ISIS. The militants, deeply entrenched in the mountains, have established a base that has become a key operational and financial hub for their network. According to U.S. Africa Command (Africom), ISIS-Somalia has grown into one of the most important branches of the group, with an estimated 1,000 fighters, including a large number of foreign recruits.

For more than a month, Puntland has been engaged in one of its most intense military offensives against ISIS, reclaiming over 50 outposts and eliminating more than 150 fighters—most of them foreign nationals. However, this progress has come at a cost. Casualties among Puntland’s forces are rising, and with no external assistance, officials fear the campaign may become unsustainable.

Despite repeated calls for support, Puntland has received no direct military aid from Western powers. The Somali federal government, which coordinates with Africom, has also not assisted, leaving Puntland isolated in its battle against a growing extremist force.

How ISIS established itself in Puntland

The report from The Washington Post traces the rise of ISIS in Somalia, detailing how the group gained a foothold in the country after splintering from Al-Shabaab in 2015. Under the leadership of Abdulqadir Mumin, ISIS-Somalia has taken a different approach from its rival, focusing less on territorial control and more on establishing a hub for global operations.

Initially reliant on financial support from Iraq and Syria, the Somali branch soon found its revenue streams by extorting local businesses. Those who refused to pay were subjected to violent reprisals, including arson attacks. Over time, the group’s financial operations became increasingly sophisticated, funnelling funds to ISIS-affiliated factions across Africa and beyond.

One of the most significant developments came in January 2023 when a U.S. special forces operation targeted a key financial facilitator, Bilal al-Sudani, in a cave complex in northern Somalia. U.S. intelligence reports revealed that he had been directing funds to ISIS cells in countries ranging from Turkey to South Africa, as well as to the Afghan branch responsible for the deadly 2021 Kabul airport bombing.

ISIS adopts advanced warfare tactics

Unlike in previous years, when the group relied on conventional insurgent tactics, ISIS in Puntland has now embraced advanced weaponry and technology. The group has been using drones for both surveillance and attacks, a method previously seen in conflicts in Syria and Iraq but new to Somalia.

Captured drones reviewed by Washington Post journalists revealed that some were equipped with thermal imaging cameras, allowing militants to conduct precision attacks at night. Others were designed as self-detonating explosives, targeting Puntland’s military convoys. Soldiers recovering from injuries described facing repeated drone assaults with little means of defence beyond their rifles.

“We only have our eyes and guns to stop them,” said Abdiqani Muse Warsame, a Puntland soldier wounded in a drone attack.

The militants have also employed increasingly brutal tactics, booby-trapping bodies, and using wounded fighters as bait to ambush Puntland forces. Military engineers responsible for deactivating explosive devices have suffered heavy losses, with 27 out of a 30-member unit killed in the past five years.

New Year’s Eve Massacre and Foreign Fighters

Perhaps the most alarming development came on New Year’s Eve when ISIS carried out a coordinated suicide bombing in Dharjaale, a town in Puntland. Twelve suicide bombers targeted military vehicles and homes where top security and government officials were staying.

The attack was unprecedented—not a single suicide bomber was Somali. The group later released a statement identifying the attackers: four Tanzanians, two Moroccans, two Saudis, an Ethiopian, a Libyan, a Tunisian, and a Yemeni. The claim was later confirmed after officials cross-referenced the names with intelligence sources.

Among them was Abu Zubayr al-Tunisi, a Tunisian national previously involved in attacks in Iraq before returning home to target security forces. Puntland officials say this marked the first instance of an ISIS suicide attack in Somalia being carried out entirely by foreign fighters.

Can Puntland sustain the fight?

Puntland continues to hold captured foreign fighters, including six Moroccans who claim they were deceived into joining the group. However, intelligence reports suggest they were part of a broader recruitment network, travelling through multiple countries before arriving in Somalia.

Despite Puntland’s determination, the reality remains that the region is fighting a battle that has major global consequences but little international backing.

U.S. policy on Somalia remains unclear. While the Biden administration has carried out limited airstrikes, including a targeted strike against ISIS leaders on February 1, there has been no broader military engagement or direct support for Puntland’s forces. Officials from Africom have declined to comment on future operations.

As the conflict drags on, the question remains: how long can Puntland’s forces sustain this battle alone, and at what cost? This shall be answered in due course as the local forces plot for the third and perhaps the last phase of these operations.

GAROWE ONLINE