Puntland’s regional president said Saturday that security forces have destroyed all Islamic State (IS) strongholds in northeastern Somalia after nearly a year of operations in the Cal-Miskaat highlands.
President Said Abdullahi Deni told the regional parliament that IS militants “no longer have any fighting capability” in the area, claiming that only a few fugitives remain in the Baallade Valley. He said the 11-month campaign has successfully dismantled the group’s command structure and bases.
Deni said the operation, which he described as the most extensive since IS established a foothold in Puntland in 2015, had targeted more than 2,000 fighters, most of them foreign jihadists.
He thanked the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Kenya for their support in the campaign and expressed hope that remaining militants would be eliminated in the coming days.
Local sources, however, disputed Deni’s claims, saying IS fighters remain active in remote mountain areas and have shifted to guerrilla tactics. Analysts warn that the group could regroup if the military withdraws prematurely.
Deni appealed to Somalis to help stabilize areas retaken from IS, emphasizing the need for reconstruction and governance to prevent the militants’ return.
