Bosaso, Somalia – Armed clashes broke out in recent hours between Puntland regional forces and ISIS militants approximately 32 kilometers outside the coastal city of Bosaso, resulting in fatalities on both sides, according to security sources.
The confrontation occurred in the rugged Shaakaalooyin area, between the Miraale and Baalade valleys, where airstrikes were also reported. It remains unclear whether the strikes were carried out by U.S. or UAE forces, both of which have previously supported counterterrorism operations in the region.
Regional security officials told that the number of active ISIS fighters in Puntland is estimated to be between 100 and 200. These militants reportedly rely on mobile guerrilla tactics and, in some cases, use women and children as human shields to complicate military responses.
This latest violence underscores ongoing efforts by Puntland authorities to root out ISIS-linked groups from their mountainous hideouts in northeastern Somalia.