Telegram takes down ISIS’s Iclaam news website, a major propaganda outlet covering the war in Puntland. Meanwhile, ISIS shifts its messaging to Facebook.
Telegram has taken decisive action against ISIS propaganda, shutting down the Iclaam website, a key outlet used by the terror group to spread war reports and recruitment messaging. This move disrupts ISIS’s ability to control its narrative on the ongoing conflict in the Calmiskaad mountains of Puntland, where Puntland forces continue their offensive to dismantle the group’s strongholds.
ISIS has long relied on Telegram as a secure and effective platform for communication, recruitment, and psychological warfare. However, tech companies have increasingly cracked down on extremist content, and Iclaam’s removal signals a continued effort to restrict the group’s influence.
While it remains unclear whether the Somali Federal Government played a role in the takedown, Mogadishu has previously targeted and removed hundreds of Al-Shabaab and ISIS-affiliated websites as part of its counterterrorism strategy.
Undeterred, ISIS has swiftly adapted, launching a new media platform, Tageere Radio Hijratayn, through Facebook. This outlet now serves as the group’s primary channel for broadcasting war updates, spreading propaganda, and attempting to radicalize new recruits.
The Puntland government has vowed to take action against those engaging with ISIS media, with authorities already handing down prison sentences to suspected supporters. As Puntland forces continue tightening their grip on ISIS-controlled areas, the battle against the group’s digital footprint has become just as critical as the fight on the ground.
