Fierce battles between Islamic State fighters and Puntland security forces in Somalia’s Puntland region have left over 20 people dead and more than 10 others wounded.
The clashes, which occurred on Sunday and Monday, were part of a military operation launched by Puntland last month to dislodge Islamic State militants from their hideouts in mountainous areas.
According to Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, spokesperson for Puntland security operations, 15 Islamic State militants and seven Puntland soldiers were killed in the fighting.
The militants used improvised explosive devices to protect their hideouts, and one of these devices exploded, killing six soldiers and wounding three.
The military operation, which focused on the Cal Miskat mountains in the Bari region, aimed to root out Islamic State militants who have been carrying out terrorist attacks in the region.
Despite their relatively small presence in Somalia compared to al-Shabab, experts have warned of growing Islamic State activity in the country.
In fact, US military officials and Somali security experts reported that the Islamic State increased its membership numbers in Somalia last year.
The group’s presence in Somalia is a concern, given its ability to carry out complex attacks, as seen in the December 31 attack on a military base in the Bari region, which killed 18 security forces.
