Forces from Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region have captured swathes of territory from Islamic State (IS) during a weeks-long offensive. The fighting follows increased IS activity in the area.
“Puntland forces have successfully captured the strategic village of Dharin in Togga Jecel, dealing a significant blow to the extremist group’s operational capabilities in the region,” the statement said.
“The forces have expelled the enemy from the areas they fought along the Togga Jecel.”
Mohamed Mubarak, head of Puntland’s security co-ordination office, told DNE Africa that IS has grown exponentially in the past year, following the promotion of Abdulqadir Mumin as the Caliph of IS.
IS in Somalia, with an estimated 700 to 1,500 fighters in Puntland’s mountains, is smaller than al Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab, which controls large parts of southern and central Somalia.
But analysts say it has become an increasingly important part of its parent organisation’s worldwide network in recent years. Mubarak explained that IS fighters are drawn from multiple countries
They have brought their best and most experienced fighters here, and “we’re fighting IS fighters from more than a dozen countries,” Mubarak said.
“We assess that IS fighters are 80% foreign fighters. Almost all of the close to 100 fighters we have killed in battle are foreigners. They import and smuggle their fighters and weapons into the mountains of Puntland,” Mubarak indicated.
US conduct single airstrike in Puntland, Federal Government done nothing
These latest clashes came just days after U.S. warplanes targeted the Islamic State affiliate in Somalia, hitting what officials described as high-ranking operatives in the terror group‘s mountainous stronghold.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the airstrike Saturday on social media, describing the main target as a “Senior ISIS Attack Planner and other terrorists he recruited and led.”
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thanked the U.S. for its “unwavering support” in the “fight against international terrorism.”
The head of Puntland’s security co-ordination office indicated that there is no U.S. assistance currently, “The U.S. has conducted that one airstrike, but we have received nothing in terms of security assistance from them.”
Despite the Somali President’s statement, the Federal Government based in Mogadishu has done nothing to support the Puntland Government in its operations against IS, Mubarak revealed.
The operation has garnered public support. Hundreds of residents took to the streets of Bosaso, the commercial hub of Puntland state, to demonstrate against the terrorist group and show support for the military campaign on Monday.
Puntland is a member state of Somalia but its relationship with the country’s federal government has been strained by political conflicts and the region is considered semi-autonomous.
