MOGADISHU, Somalia – Puntland forces discovered the passport of Saudi-born Al Hawshani Mohamed Ahmed during an operation dubbed as “Hilaac” against ISIL in the Bari region of Somalia.
The discovery was made Thursday after militants fled their hideouts in the Al-Maskad Mountains, an area they’ve used for years to launch attacks.
According to his entry visa, Ahmed arrived at Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport on December 18, 2024, via Egypt, and managed to reach Al-Maskad within a month.
Puntland anti-terrorism command reported the destruction of several hideouts, bunkers, and caches of supplies used by the militants.
The command also released images of surveillance aircraft, weapons, and the bodies of foreign fighters killed during the operation.
Hilaac operation started last month when the group attempted to attack on an army base in Dharjaalle, resulting in the deaths of 8 militants, all foreign nationals.
In less than a month, the group lost 48 bases, including its main command posts at Digale, Al-Barako, as well as Hadi-dharin and Hadi-Hanan in the Al-Maskad.
Puntland, a regional member state, feels isolated in dealing with the group, despite the threat it poses to all of Somalia, due to a political rift with the federal government.
However, Puntland has not yet received any support from the Somali government, such as financial aid, weapons, or military resources. The Bari region is home not only to ISIL but also to Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group.
