Garowe, Somalia – Ahmed Muuse Said, a senior figure within the Daesh (ISIS) terrorist network operating in Somalia, was neutralized on Monday in a carefully coordinated operation by the Counterterrorism Forces of Puntland State, regional authorities confirmed.
The operation, executed in a remote area of Bari region, targeted a known Daesh hideout and resulted in the elimination of Said, who was identified as one of the group’s top commanders responsible for orchestrating attacks and overseeing recruitment efforts in northeastern Somalia.
Puntland Security Forces (PSF) stated that the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and collaboration with national and international security partners. No civilian casualties were reported.
“Today’s successful operation is a significant blow to Daesh’s leadership structure in the region,” said a Puntland security official, speaking on condition of anonymity. As per the official’s statement, Said was instrumental in maintaining the group’s operational capacity and its illicit financial networks in the region.
Sources close to Puntland’s Ministry of Security revealed that Said had been under surveillance for several months and was believed to be coordinating attacks against both security personnel and civilians in an effort to destabilize Puntland and expand Daesh’s influence.
The operation underscores Puntland’s ongoing efforts to dismantle extremist networks within its territory. It also comes amid a broader national and international campaign to degrade and eliminate the remnants of ISIS and Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia.
Security analysts say the death of Said may create a temporary leadership vacuum within the local Daesh affiliate but caution that the threat remains as the group may attempt to regroup.
Puntland authorities reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and security in the region and called on the public to continue cooperating with security forces in identifying and reporting extremist activities.
Daesh’s presence in Somalia remains limited compared to al-Shabaab, but the group has been known to carry out deadly attacks and establish footholds in mountainous areas of Puntland, particularly in the Golis Mountains.
The Somali federal government, with the support of regional states and international partners, continues to target these threats through sustained military pressure and intelligence-driven operations.
