MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A senior Puntland military commander leading counter-terrorism operations against Islamic State militants in Somalia’s Al Miskad Mountains has been killed in a roadside bomb attack near the coastal town of Qandala, in the northeastern Bari region, Universal Somali TV reported on Monday.
Ahmed Abdi Qalyare, a veteran military leader, was killed on Tuesday when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle in Dhasan village, a remote area near Qandala. Regional authorities have not confirmed whether other military personnel were killed or injured in the blast.
Qalyare had been at the forefront of Puntland’s months-long campaign to dislodge ISIS-linked fighters from strategic positions in the Al Miskad mountain range. The operation, supported by United States and United Arab Emirates air assets, had led to significant territorial gains for regional forces against the militants entrenched in the rugged terrain.
At the time of his death, Qalyare was serving as the commander of Puntland’s Second Division and also led the region’s Dufan forces. A seasoned soldier, his military career dates back to the era of late Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre, during which he held command in the Awdal region – now part of western Somaliland.
The killing marks the most significant setback for Puntland’s security forces since the launch of their anti-ISIS offensive earlier this year. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, and regional officials have released few details as investigations continue.
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