Puntland regional forces are advancing through the rugged Cal-Miskaad mountain range in a renewed offensive aimed at dismantling entrenched ISIS cells, intensifying Somalia’s broader campaign to eliminate jihadist strongholds in the northeast.
The Cal-Miskaad mountains have long served as a sanctuary for Islamic State–affiliated fighters operating in Somalia, providing natural cover and terrain advantages that have frustrated past counterinsurgency operations. Puntland, an autonomous region with a relatively stable administration, has spearheaded efforts to contain and eradicate the group’s influence in the area.
This latest push follows a string of skirmishes and aerial surveillance missions launched in recent weeks. Military commanders on the ground say the campaign is designed not only to eliminate ISIS operatives but also to secure critical highland routes often used to traffic weapons and supplies.
The offensive also comes at a politically delicate moment, as Puntland continues to assert greater autonomy from Somalia’s federal government, presenting itself as both a security guarantor and a political counterweight to Mogadishu.
“Progress is steady and deliberate,” a Puntland Defense Ministry spokesperson said in a radio broadcast on Monday.
Puntland Defense Ministry spokesperson
“We are moving from ridge to ridge, clearing tunnels and bunkers used by terrorist elements. This operation will not stop until the region is fully secure.”
Local officials in Bari region report that a number of suspected militants have already been captured, and that tribal elders are being engaged to help facilitate surrender or intelligence sharing.
The Cal-Miskaad campaign is a test of Puntland’s capacity to manage long-term security in a strategically critical — and logistically punishing — environment. While ISIS’s operational footprint in Somalia is far smaller than Al-Shabaab’s, its presence in the north threatens vital trade corridors and regional stability.
The operation’s outcome could reshape internal power dynamics within Somalia, offering Puntland leverage in federal negotiations and potentially attracting greater international support. But analysts warn that without follow-through in governance, de-radicalization, and infrastructure, territorial gains may prove temporary.
