U.S. airstrikes in Puntland killed 16 ISIS militants, including top bomb-makers. The operation, backed by UAE forces, targeted key hideouts in Somalia’s Cal Miskaad mountains.
The U.S. just tightened the noose on ISIS-Somalia, launching a devastating airstrike that killed 16 militants, including two senior bomb-makers. In a region where ISIS has dug into mountainous strongholds, this precision strike in Puntland’s Cal Miskaad range sends a clear message: the U.S. and its allies aren’t backing down.
The United Arab Emirates’ involvement in the operation signals a wider regional effort to eliminate ISIS footholds in Puntland, a critical staging ground for terrorist expansion into Somalia and beyond. Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud hailed the strike as proof of a strong U.S.-Somalia partnership, emphasizing that Mogadishu is fully aligned with Washington’s counterterrorism strategy.
This isn’t an isolated hit—just weeks ago, a similar U.S. assault wiped out 14 ISIS operatives, including Ahmed Maeleninine, a key ISIS recruiter funneling foreign fighters into the U.S. and Europe. These strikes are part of a relentless campaign aimed at eradicating ISIS leadership, disrupting its supply chains, and neutralizing its drone capabilities—a growing threat evident from the seven drones launched by militants during Sunday’s raid.
Puntland has declared all-out war on extremist groups, claiming to have eliminated over 200 ISIS fighters since launching its military offensive. But ISIS isn’t going down quietly—if its drone warfare and fortified mountain bases are any indication, the battle for Puntland is far from over.
With the U.S. stepping up its direct involvement, and regional players like UAE actively participating, ISIS-Somalia’s days are numbered—but the question remains: how deep is the terror network’s resilience, and can Puntland’s forces maintain the pressure without sustained U.S. air support?
