You have commented 361 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Africa Horn
Somalia: Puntland Forces Seize ISIS Hideout as U.S.-Backed Operation Gains Momentum
2025-08-17
[Garowe] Puntland
...a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland and the equally autonomous Somaliland seem to have avoided the clan rivalries and warlordism that have typified the rest of Somalia, which puts both places high on the list for Islamic subversion...
’s defense forces have taken full control of the strategic area of Elka Wangable, located north of Qandala district in Somalia’s Bari region, following a series of coordinated military operations, officials said Saturday.

Several Puntland army officers confirmed that ISIS murderous Moslems were pushed out of the area, which had served for years as a key base for the holy warrior group’s leaders, fighters, and their families.

Elka Wangable, known for its perennial water well, had been a crucial stronghold for ISIS since 2016. Surrounded by mountains and natural caves, the area provided the group with effective cover and a sustainable living environment, making it a long-term base for operations and planning.

Local sources say ISIS fighters vacated the area ahead of the Puntland assault, although their current whereabouts remain unknown. It is suspected that they may have retreated into nearby mountainous terrain.

The location’s proximity to coastal routes also made it strategically valuable, allowing for the smuggling of weapons and supplies. Wangable served as a launchpad for roadside kaboomings and ambushes, particularly in the Toga-Jeceel area, where multiple attacks on military convoys have occurred in recent years.

Intelligence reports indicate that ISIS began reestablishing its presence in Wangable in late 2024, initially sending women and kiddies before reinforcing the area with fighters and heavy weapons.

This resurgence followed a significant setback suffered during Puntland’s Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
s on February 11 that targeted their bases in the region.

Puntland authorities have vowed to continue military operations to clear remaining Death Eater hideouts and prevent future regrouping.
Related:
Qandala district: 2023-03-14 Al-Shabaab and ISIS militants clash in Somalia
Related:
Bari region: 2025-08-11 Puntland: Heavy airstrikes hit Upper Baalada Valley in the El-Miskaad Mountains, Bari region
Bari region: 2025-08-02 Somalia: Puntland Forces Capture Two Foreign ISIS Fugitives Near Kalabayr
Bari region: 2025-07-31 Somalia: ISIS fighters lose more ground in Puntland offensive
Posted by:trailing wife

00:00