Puntland, Somalia – Puntland State has announced a major counterterrorism success after its security forces eliminated five Islamic State (ISIS) militants and captured one suspect alive in a special operation conducted on Sunday.
According to the Puntland Counterterrorism Operations Command, the targeted cell had been on the run following a series of deadly attacks in the region. Authorities said the group was directly linked to the landmine detonation that killed General Qalyare last Tuesday, a high-ranking military officer whose assassination triggered widespread outrage.
“They were fugitives responsible for planting landmines, including the one that killed Gen. Qalyare,” the command said in a statement posted on social media.
Security officials did not disclose the exact location of the operation but confirmed that no casualties were reported among Puntland forces. The surviving militant is currently under interrogation, and authorities believe he could provide valuable intelligence on wider ISIS networks operating in Somalia’s northeast.
Puntland has intensified its campaign against ISIS and Al-Shabaab factions entrenched in the rugged Bari and Sanaag mountain ranges. The latest raid signals a continuation of the state’s aggressive approach to dismantling extremist cells before they can regroup.
The killing of Gen. Qalyare, a respected commander known for his role in anti-ISIS and anti-smuggling operations, had raised fears of retaliation and instability. However, Sunday’s swift response has been widely viewed as a show of resilience by Puntland authorities.
Officials say further operations are underway to hunt down remaining members of the insurgent cell.