Bosaso, Somalia –Security forces in Somalia’s Federal State of Puntland have launched a large-scale operation targeting supply networks aiding Islamic State (ISIS) militants hiding in the rugged mountains of the Bari region, officials said Tuesday.
The Puntland Police Rapid Response Unit (Birmad), operating in the Goodir area, intercepted a vehicle allegedly transporting food supplies, solar panels, and other equipment to ISIS fighters entrenched in the Cal Miskaad mountains.
Two individuals escorting the vehicle were arrested during the operation near Togga Baalade, on the outskirts of Bosaso, the region’s commercial hub.
“These individuals were attempting to covertly deliver essential supplies to terrorist elements, but our forces successfully intercepted the vehicle before it reached its destination,” a Puntland security official told Radio Shabelle on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, separate operations by the Puntland Defense Force’s Waran Unit uncovered hidden caches belonging to ISIS in the area between Lugta Garaar and Sulsul.
Among the materials seized were extremist ideological manuals, passports, and small engines believed to be used in logistical support for the group.
The operations are part of Puntland’s ongoing efforts to eliminate remnants of ISIS and disrupt their supply chains in the mountainous hideouts of the Bari region.
“Puntland remains committed to dismantling terrorist networks and securing its territories from extremist threats,” the official added.
ISIS militants have maintained a limited but persistent presence in northeastern Somalia since 2015, using the difficult terrain to evade security forces and conduct sporadic attacks.
