Somalia: UAE Airstrikes Eliminate Senior ISIS Leaders in Puntland

Additional details have emerged regarding a deadly airstrike carried out last night in the Cal-Miskaad mountain range in the Bari region, where Puntland forces are engaged in operations against ISIS militants.

The precision-planned attack reportedly targeted a large cave where ISIS fighters had gathered, near the Sheebaab area, according to a statement released by Puntland’s Counterterrorism Command.

The statement confirmed that the airstrike was a joint operation between Puntland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), resulting in significant losses for ISIS. More than 10 militants, including senior leaders of the group, were reportedly killed in the strike.

“The airstrike eliminated over 11 ISIS militants who were regrouping in a cave near Sheebaab – Cal-Miskaad. The strike was executed by Puntland’s strategic partners from the UAE,” the statement read.

The UAE has been playing an increasingly active role in the fight against ISIS in the mountainous regions of Bari, having previously conducted similar airstrikes in Cal-Miskaad.

In a recent operation, a UAE airstrike in the Darar-Madoobe area killed 12 ISIS fighters and destroyed a truck used by the group.

Alongside the UAE, the United States has also been involved in the counterterrorism campaign, carrying out airstrikes against ISIS positions in Puntland, inflicting further losses on the militant group.

Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni recently reaffirmed his administration’s openness to working with any partners willing to support the ongoing anti-ISIS operations in the region’s rugged terrain.