Al-Miskaad, Puntland – A U.S. military drone strike has hit suspected Islamic State positions in the rugged Al-Miskaad Mountains of northeastern Somalia, as Puntland regional forces intensify their ground offensive against the militant group entrenched in the area.
The strike, believed to have been carried out late Saturday, targeted key hideouts used by ISIS-affiliated fighters for logistics and training. Local security officials said the bombardment came just hours after Puntland troops launched a renewed assault on mountain passages long considered the militants’ last major sanctuary in the region.
Residents in nearby villages reported hearing loud explosions echoing across the mountain range, followed by sustained gunfire as Puntland units advanced deeper toward ISIS-held territory. Authorities have yet to provide casualty figures, but security sources suggested the operation was coordinated between U.S. military advisors and Puntland’s elite counterterrorism forces.
For years, the Al-Miskaad Mountains have served as a strategic stronghold for Somalia’s ISIS faction, which split from Al-Shabaab and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2015. Despite being relatively small in number compared to Al-Shabaab, ISIS fighters have remained resilient due to the difficult terrain and their familiarity with the rocky highlands.
Puntland officials say the latest offensive aims to dismantle the group’s remaining command structure and restore full control over the mountain belt that stretches toward the Gulf of Aden coast. Speaking anonymously due to operational sensitivities, one officer involved in the advance said morale among government troops was high, as many of them come from communities directly affected by years of insurgent intimidation.
The U.S. military has not publicly commented on the strike, but the action aligns with Washington’s ongoing counterterrorism partnership with Somali authorities, particularly in regions where extremist factions threaten local stability and maritime security.
As Puntland forces edge closer to ISIS redoubts, humanitarian workers have raised concerns about potential displacement, urging authorities to ensure safe corridors for civilians living near conflict zones. Local leaders, meanwhile, have called for sustained international support to prevent militants from melting back into remote communities after the offensive.
While the battle for the Al-Miskaad Mountains is far from over, Saturday’s strike signals a significant escalation in efforts to eradicate one of ISIS’s most entrenched outposts in the Horn of Africa.