ISIS affiliate in Somalia has received over 30 new fighters. Out of those newest members, five are foreigners. This represents a coup for ISIS, which is almost in a dysfunctional state in Somalia.
ISIS-Somalia has battled with Al-Shabaab militants for over five years now. Consequently, relations between the two militant groups have been at their lowest levels. However, latest intelligence reports show that ISIS-Somali has added new members to its rank.
The presence of foreigners among its freshest set of members is part of the rebuilding that ISIS-Somali has been conducting. Reports show that its recruitment is quite sophisticated and a huge departure from what happened in the past.
Intelligence sources say that three of the foreign members are from Yemen. The other two newly recruited members are of Iraqi origin. They were sighted in the training camp at Puntland’s Any Bake Al-Qurayshi.
With the addition of the 30 new recruits, ISIS-Somali’s attempts at spreading its ideologies around the nation have received a shot in the arm. Multiple sources indicate that ISIS-Somali plans to deploy these fighters in the southern parts of the country.