Bosaso, Somalia – Puntland authorities have announced that their counter-terrorism forces have killed multiple ISIS fighters in a recent operation in the Miraale Valley, located in the Bari region. The militants were reportedly hiding in underground caves when the operation was launched.

In a statement issued yesterday by Puntland’s Counter-Terrorism Forces, the operation was described as a success that cleared ISIS fighters from key hideouts.

“The Puntland Counter-Terrorism Forces today carried out an operation in the Miraale Valley, killing ISIS terrorists hiding in the area and clearing them from their underground hideouts,” the statement said.

Additional security sources confirmed that the mission involved both ground troops and aerial support. While no countries were officially named, the United Arab Emirates and the United States are known to be key partners supporting Puntland in conducting aerial operations against terrorist groups.

The operation forms part of the third phase of Puntland’s broader campaign against ISIS in the region, with officials indicating that preparations are underway for the fourth phase, aimed at fully eradicating the group’s remaining presence in remote mountainous areas.