Wednesday 26,March 2025 {HMC} U.S. airstrikes hit the Al Miskaad mountain range in Somalia’s Bari region late Monday night, targeting ISIS militants entrenched in the remote Miiraale Valley. The airstrike is part of ongoing operations to weaken ISIS’s growing presence in northern Somalia, with Puntland forces and international allies supporting the effort.
Puntland officials confirmed that the U.S. aircraft struck ISIS positions in the valley, but the number of casualties remains unverified. The strike is part of a broader campaign against the extremist group, which has entrenched itself in Somalia’s northeastern regions.
Fighting between ISIS and Puntland forces has intensified in the Al Miskaad mountains, a strategic location in northeastern Somalia. Puntland officials and U.S. sources report that Operation “Lightning” has resulted in the deaths of many ISIS militants, including foreign fighters. Since the operation’s inception, the presence of foreign militants in ISIS-controlled areas has been a growing concern, with their numbers now believed to surpass earlier estimates.
The airstrike follows a string of attacks by ISIS militants in the region, including one on Puntland forces in late December. Puntland officials claim all attackers were killed, but the risk of foreign fighters joining the group remains high, intensifying the threat in the region.
The Al Miskaad mountains, located in Somalia’s Bari region, offer ISIS militants a remote and difficult-to-reach environment, providing a safe haven from U.S. and international airstrikes. Military planners say the region’s strategic importance cannot be overstated; it has become a crucial location for ISIS as they continue to challenge the authority of Puntland forces and international partners.
Puntland’s government has launched several operations targeting ISIS in the Al Miskaad mountains, with mixed results. While some ISIS-controlled territories have been seized, the conflict remains unresolved after months of fighting. The rugged terrain continues to provide ISIS with a stronghold, and efforts to eradicate the group’s presence from the region are ongoing.
With files from the BBC Somali Service
