More than 20 individuals lost their lives in a violent confrontation between Somali security forces and fighters affiliated with the Islamic State, highlighting the ongoing instability in the region.
BOSASO – More than 20 people were killed and over 10 others wounded during two days of intense fighting between Islamic State (IS) militants and security forces from Somalia’s Puntland region, officials confirmed on Tuesday. Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, a spokesperson for Puntland’s security operations, told VOA’s Somali Service that 15 IS fighters and seven Puntland soldiers died in clashes on Sunday and Monday.
Ahmed reported that IS militants used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to defend their hideouts near the Ufeyn area. While clearing landmines, six soldiers were killed and three wounded when one of the devices detonated. During the operation, Puntland forces killed eight IS fighters.
The clashes continued into Monday, with soldiers engaging militants near the Laba-Afle area, resulting in the deaths of seven IS fighters, one soldier, and injuries to four others. Residents, speaking anonymously for safety, told VOA they saw the bodies of militants scattered along roads leading to the Cal Miskat mountains.
Puntland launched a military offensive last month to target extremist groups in the region after months of preparation. Regional leader Said Abdullahi Deni urged public support for the operation, aimed at rooting out IS militants from their mountain hideouts.
While Puntland has faced attacks from both al-Shabab and IS, the current operation focuses on the latter. IS, though smaller than al-Shabab, has been growing in strength. U.S. military and Somali experts report that IS has expanded its ranks to an estimated 500–600 fighters, up from 100–400 previously, with recruits hailing from the Middle East and parts of Africa.
IS in Somalia, formed in 2015 by former al-Shabab fighters led by Sheikh Abdulkadir Mumin, remains a persistent threat. Mumin, who pledged allegiance to the late IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, reportedly survived a U.S. airstrike on May 31, 2024. A UN counterterrorism official recently warned of increasing attacks by IS affiliates in Somalia, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
SALMURUXNEWS
One thought on “More than 20 individuals lost their lives in a violent confrontation between Somali security forces and fighters affiliated with the Islamic State, highlighting the ongoing instability in the region.”