Garowe (Sahan Post) — The Puntland government says a U.S.-supported airstrike has hit ISIS militants hiding in a valley near Baallade, a rugged area in the Calmiskaad mountain range of Bari region.
In a statement released late Monday, Puntland’s counterterrorism command confirmed that the strike targeted “fleeing ISIS elements” who had been sheltering in the area.
“An airstrike was carried out hours ago against ISIS militants hiding in the Baallade valley. The operation was conducted by Puntland’s international partner, the United States,” the statement said.
The strike comes as Puntland security forces intensify what authorities describe as the final phase of operations aimed at dismantling the remaining ISIS cells in the region. Over the past several days, Puntland Defence Forces have expanded ground operations around Baallade in pursuit of the group’s remnants.
Puntland has previously received military support — including airstrikes — from the United States and the United Arab Emirates in its long-running battle against ISIS in the Bari mountains.
However, the administration has remained silent on a controversial airstrike earlier this year in which a prominent clan elder Omar Abdullahi was killed on September 13, 2025, between Badhan and Ceelbuh in Sanaag region. The elder’s death sparked criticism from local communities demanding accountability and transparency over foreign-led operations in the area.
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