Puntland's armed forces said they killed 26 Islamic State fighters during an offensive in the Al-Miskat mountains of Somalia's Bari region, describing the operation as one of the most significant clashes in the area this year.
According to Idil News, the fighting took place on Monday and focused on eight extremist outposts in the mountain belt. The outlet said Puntland military officials reported the deaths of 26 ISIS fighters, including a woman, after a clash that began around 8 a.m. near Dhabancad valley, about 13 kilometres from Balidhidhin district. The report said the initial exchange involved an explosion followed by mortar fire and drone attacks aimed at Puntland forces.
The account also said Puntland forces seized control of several positions, including Awaydi, Wacariyaad, Salnafeed and Kaadilay. It said the offensive disrupted the group's network in Bilidhidin, Gubad and Dhaban-Cado, and that the operation captured six bases in total. The report further said nine explosive-laden drones launched by ISIS were shot down during the battle.
The military's description points to a campaign that was both kinetic and logistical. Alongside the reported casualties, Puntland forces said they captured food, medicine and weapons from ISIS positions. Those seizures matter because insurgent groups in remote terrain depend on stored supplies and short supply lines. Loss of those stores can force a retreat or reduce the ability to hold ground.
The report also said the operation was not cost-free for Puntland. Two soldiers were killed and three others wounded when their vehicle struck an explosive device. That detail underlines the risk to attacking forces in mountain warfare, where improvised explosives and ambush tactics can still inflict losses even when one side is advancing.
The evidence provided here comes from one supplied source, so the safest conclusion is limited to what Puntland officials chose to disclose. They said 26 ISIS fighters were killed and that the offensive reached eight outposts in Bari. They also described the action as ongoing, suggesting the broader campaign had not yet reached a settled endpoint.
The event date attached to the report was January 13, 2025. The key verified facts are the claimed death toll, the locations named by Puntland officials, and the reported capture of militant bases during a continuing operation against ISIS in the Cal Miskaad area.
Another useful detail is the report's description of the militants' response. The article said resistance was weak and that fighters were retreating deeper into the mountains under pressure. That may reflect morale problems, tactical withdrawal, or simply the difficulty of holding fixed positions against an offensive supported by drones and ground assaults. The supplied evidence does not allow a full judgment, but it does show the campaign was aimed at dislodging ISIS from specific outposts rather than merely containing it.
The report also underscores the danger to Puntland forces themselves. The soldiers killed and wounded by an explosive device show that the offensive was still encountering embedded hazards even while it made gains. That detail keeps the story grounded in the realities of mountain warfare rather than a one-sided victory narrative.
