US forces carried out targeted airstrikes overnight in several areas of Qandala district in Somalia's northeastern Bari region. The strikes focused on positions suspected of being used by Islamic State (ISIS) militants. According to field and security sources, the airstrikes hit areas including Dabalyal and Halbaladi, as well as positions east of Dhadar, near strategic locations held by Puntland's Darawiish forces.
The airstrikes were part of ongoing efforts to support military operations against remaining ISIS elements in the Al-Miskad mountain range. Security sources said the operation followed approximately four weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance. This surveillance reportedly identified concentrations of ISIS operatives involved in coordinating field activities and planning the use of improvised explosive devices and landmines.
Suspicious movements were detected around Wangabli well and in the Gub and Gurdadin areas. The Ja'il Valley has served as one of ISIS's principal strongholds and operational centers. The area is believed to have hosted command facilities, medical installations, and defensive positions used by the organization to coordinate its activities.
ISIS has maintained a presence in Puntland since 2015, when a faction of Al-Shabaab fighters broke away from the group and pledged allegiance to ISIS. Since establishing its foothold, the organization has carried out bombings, targeted killings, and other attacks. Security analysts cite Puntland's strategic location and difficult mountainous terrain as factors that have enabled the group to sustain its activities.
Estimates by Puntland officials place the group's strength at between 200 and 300 fighters, most of whom are reportedly from neighboring Ethiopia. Recent movements in the eastern parts of the Gacail Valley have heightened concerns that ISIS is attempting to reorganize its forces and prepare for further attacks. Despite these concerns, Puntland's Darawiish forces continue to maintain control over key corridors and strategic routes.
The latest airstrikes follow a series of military operations conducted by Puntland's Darawiish forces over the past two weeks on the western side of the Gacail Valley. Puntland forces also seized equipment and medical supplies in the Buqo Aliid and Ruq Ruq areas during operations in the Al-Miskad region. In early 2025, an airstrike in the area reportedly killed ISIS's head of foreign relations, an Iraqi national.
The US airstrikes highlight the continuing military pressure on ISIS positions in northeastern Somalia. The operation demonstrates the importance of intelligence-led operations in preventing the group from rebuilding its presence in the Al-Miskad mountain range. Key efforts to counter ISIS include supporting Puntland's Darawiish forces and disrupting the group's operational networks.
Key points
- The airstrikes targeted ISIS positions in the Qandala district, focusing on areas including Dabalyal and Halbaladi.
- ISIS has maintained a presence in Puntland since 2015 and has carried out various attacks in the region.
- Puntland officials estimate that ISIS has between 200 and 300 fighters, mostly from neighboring Ethiopia.
