Puntland Urges Global Support in the Fight Against Transnational Terrorism

[Deeq A.]

Puntland Defence Forces captured many ISIS hideouts in Calmiskaad.

Boosaaso (PP Editorial) — As counterterrorism operations against the terrorist group identifying itself as the Islamic State in Somalia (ISIS) in the Calmiskaad mountains continue, the Defence Forces of Puntland State of Somalia have observed a marked difference between ISIS and Al-Shabaab. ISIS not only recruits a large number of foreigners in an attempt to replicate the actions of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the slain “Emir” of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but it has also mined large swathes of land it once controlled.

Mindful of its disadvantages, ISIS has resorted to planting anti-personnel mines in civilian areas. ISIS leaders view this strategy as an effective method to delay advancing troops. Anti-mine squads in Puntland have defused many land mines; however, the risk of troops being blown up remains high.

Last week in Boosaaso, the Puntland State Council of Ministers issued a statement calling on the international community to assist Puntland State in its war against transnational terrorists.

Since the counterterrorism operations began nearly three weeks ago, ISIS terrorists have fled their hideouts. They are now cut off from districts and unable to flee to the sea. In their retreat, they abandoned food supplies, ID cards, laptops and registers used to record extortion money from businesses. A counterterrorism security expert suggested that the number of foreign terrorists in ISIS outnumbers the Somali recruits the group has enlisted.

Most of the foreigners and Somali recruits of ISIS passed through areas controlled by the Somaliland administration, as stated by Mustafe Ba’alul, the former chief of the Somaliland intelligence agency, during the handover of responsibilities to a new director. Documents seized by Puntland State Defence Forces indicate that some fighters had Ethiopian visas in their passports. The new security measure to check the residence status of foreigners in Puntland State is a timely step in the right direction.

 © Puntland Post, 2025

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