MOGADISHU, Somalia – Puntland security forces in Somalia’s semiautonomous state have carried out a significant operation against ISIS (Daesh) militants, eliminating 20 terrorists, including foreign nationals, according to the state news agency SONNA on Monday.

The offensive targeted terrorist strongholds in the Al-Miskad mountains, a known ISIS hub in the northeastern Bari region. Puntland’s counterterrorism unit confirmed the destruction of four terrorist bases during the operation.

“In today’s ongoing operation in the Al-Miskad Mountains, we killed ISIS terrorists, including foreigners, and captured at least four terrorist bases,” the unit announced via X (formerly Twitter).

Additionally, nine drones intended for use by the militants were shot down by Puntland forces. A large ISIS hideout in the area remains under assault, the statement noted.

This operation follows the thwarting of a December 31 attack in which ISIS operatives deployed a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) targeting a military base.

Somalia continues to grapple with security challenges posed by ISIS and al-Shabaab. The latter has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) since 2007.

The latest escalation in counterterrorism efforts aligns with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s declaration of an “all-out war” on al-Shabaab, aiming to restore stability in the region.