Somalia: U.S. Military Assists Puntland in Ongoing Fight Against ISIS

BOSASO, Somalia - The US Africa Command has yet again confirmed airstrikes in Puntland state, following a two-week joint operation with the Puntland Counter-Terrorism Forces targeting the ISIS commanders believed to be hiding in the Al-Miskad mountains.

Since December 2024, the US Africa Command has been working closely with the Puntland state troops, flushing the ISIS militants from several caves in the Bari region. In February 2025, President Donald Trump confirmed one of the airstrikes that left senior commanders dead.

And the latent operations, the US army said, focused on safe havens of senior commanders who are said to be hiding in Al-Miskad Mountains — at times referred to as Al-Miskad Mountains in the Bari region — near the coastal strip.

"U.S. Africa Command, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, concluded a two-week operation targeting ISIS-Somalia in the Puntland region. Strikes focused on leadership safe havens in the Al-Miskad Mountains," the statement read.

“These lethal strikes demonstrate our resolve and commitment to ensuring Americans and our partners remain safe from the threat of global terrorism.” – Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Commander, U.S. Africa Command.

On Monday, Puntland forces conducted an operation in Maragale, Baallade Valley, to clear out the remnants of ISIS terrorists. During the fighting, the terrorists were overpowered and driven out of new areas, and the operation is still ongoing.

The US Africa Command has been supporting Somalia in fighting both ISIS and Al-Shabaab, signalling a close partnership on streamlining security within the Horn of Africa region. ISIS militants are limited to some parts of Puntland.

Somalia's federal government has, however, given limited support to the regional troops due to tensions between Mogadishu and Garowe. The US Africa Command also works closely with the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

GAROWE ONLINE