MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Puntland security forces have taken control of the last ISIS stronghold in the mountainous regions near the coastal town of Bosaso, authorities announced on Wednesday.
The operation marks a significant victory in the ongoing campaign to dismantle the militant group’s presence in the area.
Regional security forces captured the town of Dhasan, located in the Al Miskad Mountain range, which served as ISIS’s final and largest stronghold in the region.
The area is also where a strategic valley known as Togga Jaceel ends, according to a statement released by a regional counter-terrorism taskforce on X.
Authorities shared images of the aftermath, showing debris from missiles used to target ISIS militants and their vehicles in areas recently reclaimed by Puntland forces.
The operation is part of a broader offensive that has lasted over a month, aimed at dislodging ISIS from a 50-kilometer stretch of rugged mountainous terrain.
The campaign has been fiercely contested, resulting in the deaths of dozens of militants and security personnel, with many more injured on both sides.
Despite the challenging terrain and heavy resistance, Puntland forces have made significant progress in reclaiming territory held by insurgents.
The seizure of Dhasan represents a critical blow to ISIS’s presence in Puntland, as the group has increasingly sought to establish a foothold in Somalia after losing significant swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
