Mogadishu (HOL) — Puntland security forces say they have killed more than 40 ISIS fighters and seized a critical stronghold during a 24-hour offensive in Somalia’s northeastern Bari region, describing the battle as a decisive moment in their campaign against the militant group.
The assault, launched late Friday in the Togga Miiraale valley, marks the third and final phase of Operation Hillaac, a months-long initiative to eliminate ISIS from its entrenched positions in the Cal Miskaad mountain range. According to military officials, the operation dismantled one of the group’s last major command centers and disrupted its operational infrastructure.
“Our troops inflicted heavy losses and reclaimed important territory in Togga Miiraale,” said General Mohamed Mohamud Faadhigo, spokesperson for Operation Hillaac. “The area was one of the group’s final hiding places, and the battle marks a turning point in the campaign to eliminate them.”
Puntland Information Minister Mahmoud Aydid Dirir said government forces had been conducting surveillance and reconnaissance in the area for weeks before storming fortified caves and bunkers.
“Our forces had been surveying the valley for some time. Yesterday, they reached the caves and engaged the militants in close combat, forcing them out,” Dirir told the BBC.
Security officials also reported foiling a planned ISIS suicide attack on a military base late Friday night. Intelligence services had identified the threat in advance, enabling troops to intercept and neutralize the attackers before they could carry out the assault.
“They attempted a nighttime suicide strike, but all the attackers were neutralized before they could inflict damage,” Dirir said.
Togga Miiraale, known for its cliffs, deep gorges, and underground cave systems, had long served as a natural stronghold and training ground for ISIS fighters in the region.
“This valley is surrounded by mountains and rich in water,” Dirir added. “It includes large caves and underground fortifications, making it one of the group’s most critical operational bases.”
Puntland officials say most of the area has now been retaken, though small pockets of militants remain. “Their remaining positions are limited. Most of their wells and fortified posts have been cleared,” Dirir added.
A Puntland commander described the battle as a defining moment in the region’s fight against ISIS. “Togga Miiraale will become the final graveyard of ISIS in Somalia,” he said.
The Islamic State in Somalia (ISS) originated in October 2015 when Abdul Qadir Mumin, a former senior ideologue within al-Shabaab, defected and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State’s then-leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Mumin, along with approximately 20 followers, established the ISS in Somalia’s Puntland region, specifically in the Galgala Mountains. This group, while now affiliated with the broader Islamic State network, emerged directly from a schism within al-Shabaab.
Al-Shabaab, affiliated with al-Qaeda, responded to these defections with hostility, detaining and, in some cases, executing members suspected of supporting the Islamic State. Despite this internal crackdown, ISS managed to establish a foothold in the mountainous regions of Puntland, leveraging the area’s rugged terrain for strategic advantage.
Since the start of Operation Hillaac earlier this year, Somali and U.S. officials say dozens of ISIS militants—including foreign fighters and senior commanders—have been killed.
