Somalia: Security Forces in Puntland Apprehend Suspected ISIS Members from Morocco

The security forces in Somalia’s Puntland State successfully carried out an operation resulting in the apprehension of four Moroccan nationals suspected to be members of the ISIS group, Somali Police Spokesperson has said .

The operation , the spokesman said happened on 18th November 2023 and unfolded near the Al-Miskat mountains in the Bari region, marking a significant development in the region’s ongoing efforts to combat threats.

Sadik Ali, the spokesperson for the Somalia Police Force, briefed journalists on the operation, confirming the arrest of the four individuals. According to Ali, the Moroccan nationals are believed to have connections with the ISIS faction operating in the northeastern part of Puntland. The suspects were taken into custody on November 18, and an ongoing investigation aims to shed light on the circumstances surrounding their presence in the Cal Miskaad mountains.

“Four Moroccan nationals were apprehended in Cal Miskaad mountains on suspicion of having links with the ISIS faction based in the northeast of Puntland,” reported Sadik Ali.

The operation, he added, underscores the vigilance of the security forces in addressing potential security threats and dismantling networks associated with international terrorist organizations.

The investigation seeks to uncover the route taken by the suspects to reach Cal Miskaad and ascertain the extent of their involvement with the ISIS faction in the region.