Garowe, Somalia – Counterterrorism forces in Somalia’s Puntland State battling ISIS militants in the rugged Al-Miskad mountain ranges have received a vital resupply via airdrop from U.S. Africa Command, security officials confirmed on Sunday.
The delivery, which included ammunition, food, and medical supplies, is seen as a critical lifeline for Puntland’s elite forces who have been engaged in a prolonged campaign to dismantle ISIS hideouts in the mountainous region of Bari.
“The support came at a crucial moment,” said one Puntland security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Our forces have maintained pressure on the terrorists for weeks, and this airdrop will enable continued operations.”
The U.S. has previously provided limited direct support to Somali forces under its broader counterterrorism partnership in the Horn of Africa, particularly targeting ISIS and Al-Shabaab militants.
The Al-Miskad mountains have long served as a hideout for ISIS’s Somalia affiliate, which uses the remote terrain for training, logistics, and planning attacks across Puntland and other areas.
While Puntland forces have made significant territorial gains, security analysts caution that defeating the entrenched ISIS cells in the mountains will require sustained support and coordination.
The airdrop highlights growing international cooperation amid Somalia’s ongoing fight against terrorism, even as the African Union mission transitions into a new phase under AUSSOM.