U.S. Special Forces Conduct Targeted Operation in Bari Region

Boosaaso, Puntland – (Sahan Post) — U.S. Special Operations forces carried out a pre-dawn, coordinated air-and-ground operation on 25 November in the mountainous areas of Puntland’s Bari region, according to Puntland authorities.

The Puntland State Government announced that the mission took place in the Baalade valley, located in the Cal Miskaad mountain range, and targeted senior members of the ISIS-affiliated group operating in the area.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Puntland’s Counterterrorism Command said:
“In the Cal Miskaad area, an air and ground operation carried out by our partners from the United States, who support the ongoing counterterrorism mission, targeted high-level ISIS militants. Further details will be released in due course.”

Independent sources report that the U.S. special forces raid occurred in the early hours of the morning in the Bakuuje caves of Baalade, a location long suspected of sheltering senior ISIS figures. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has not yet issued an official statement regarding the operation.

This marks the second U.S. ground operation in the area this year against ISIS militants. In July, U.S. forces captured the group’s finance chief and foreign-fighters liaison, Cabdiweli Mohamed Aw Yusuf—commonly known as Cabdiweli Walalac. Walalac is believed to have voluntarily surrendered to U.S. authorities, according to information obtained by Sahan Post.

The U.S. government is expected to release an official briefing on the latest operation in the coming days.

Sahan Post
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