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Puntland security forces have arrested a Turkish national believed to be a member of the Islamic State (ISIS) during an ongoing security operation in northeastern Somalia. The man, identified as Feyzul Hashim Suleyman, was captured on Monday in the Togga Balade area of Bari region as part of Operation Hilac, a large-scale military campaign aimed at flushing out ISIS militants hiding in the rugged Cal-Miskaad mountains.
Security officials said Suleyman is the second Turkish national captured by Puntland forces in recent months. In June, authorities detained another Turkish citizen, Hassan Ataar, who was also linked to ISIS activities in the same area. However, two other Turkish nationals — Emre Kemal Yilmaz and Aylin Derya Kaya — are still on the run and are believed to be hiding in the Cal-Miskaad mountains, where ISIS maintains a small but active presence.
According to Gen. Ahmed Abdilaahi Sheikh, a senior Puntland military officer, intelligence reports suggest that these Turkish fighters fled their country after the failed 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. Many of them were believed to have previously served in the Turkish military before escaping abroad. “Intelligence findings show that some of these individuals joined ISIS in Syria before relocating to Somalia’s Cal-Miskaad region,” said Gen. Ahmed, noting that investigations are ongoing to uncover their connections to international criminal and terrorist networks.
The capture of Suleyman marks another step forward in Puntland’s campaign to eliminate ISIS cells operating in the mountainous areas of Bari. Operation Hilac, which is now in its fourth phase, has focused on dismantling militant hideouts and cutting off their supply routes. Over the past year, Puntland security forces have intensified efforts against both ISIS and al-Shabaab elements in the region, targeting training camps, safe houses, and smuggling routes that militants use to transport weapons and supplies.
Security experts say the growing presence of foreign fighters in Somalia — particularly from the Middle East, Turkey, and North Africa — highlights the transnational nature of terrorism in the Horn of Africa. They warn that the involvement of foreign militants could strengthen ISIS’s influence in the region, especially as local extremist groups continue to face pressure from Somali and allied forces. Experts also call for stronger international collaboration, including intelligence sharing and joint operations, to prevent foreign fighters from using Somalia as a safe haven.
Puntland authorities revealed that during Monday’s clashes in Togga Balade, their forces also captured a Somali fighter believed to be part of the ISIS cell. Military sources say the operation is still ongoing and that several militants are believed to be hiding in caves and remote mountain areas.
Officials praised the efforts of the Puntland Dervish forces for their persistence in the face of difficult terrain and the militants’ guerrilla tactics. The Cal-Miskaad mountains, which stretch across northeastern Somalia’s Bari region, have long served as a hideout for extremist groups due to their harsh geography and limited access by road.
The Puntland administration reiterated its commitment to fighting terrorism and preventing the region from becoming a base for foreign extremists. Local leaders emphasized that ongoing security operations will continue until all militant threats are neutralized and stability is restored to the area.