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The United States military has confirmed carrying out two airstrikes against ISIS-Somalia militants in the Al Miskaad mountain range in Puntland’s Bari region. The rugged mountains, part of the Golis range, have long served as a stronghold for ISIS-linked fighters who use the remote terrain for training and regrouping.
According to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the airstrikes took place on October 24 and 26, about 85 kilometers southeast of Bosaso, a key port city along the Gulf of Aden. AFRICOM said the strikes were part of ongoing efforts with the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces to weaken ISIS-Somalia’s ability to threaten U.S. and Somali interests. The command did not provide casualty figures or operational details, citing security reasons, and noted that it has suspended public civilian harm reports since April.
Regional officials in Puntland confirmed that local security forces are working closely with AFRICOM to intensify operations against ISIS cells in the area. The collaboration reportedly involves intelligence sharing and logistical coordination. While Puntland authorities have claimed significant progress against the militants, reports suggest that ISIS fighters remain active in the mountainous regions, using guerrilla tactics to survive air and ground offensives.
ISIS-Somalia first appeared in 2015 after breaking away from al-Shabaab due to internal disagreements within the larger militant group. Since then, the group has established bases in Puntland’s remote mountain caves and maintained smaller cells across northern Somalia. Despite being much smaller than al-Shabaab, ISIS-Somalia has remained a persistent security concern, especially in Puntland, where it occasionally clashes with local forces and rival militants.
The latest airstrikes underline Washington’s renewed attention on Puntland, an area that has seen increased joint U.S.-Somali military activity in recent months. AFRICOM’s operations in Puntland are part of a broader counterterrorism campaign across Somalia, targeting both ISIS and al-Shabaab. Data compiled by Antiwar.com shows that the recent strikes bring the total number of U.S. airstrikes in Somalia in 2025 to 86—already surpassing all previous annual totals. For comparison, the Trump administration recorded a high of 63 strikes in 2019, while President Biden authorized 51 during his four years in office.
The United States has been involved in Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts since 2007, following its support for Ethiopia’s invasion that ousted the Islamic Courts Union—a coalition that briefly governed Mogadishu. That intervention led to the rise of al-Shabaab, and later, ISIS-Somalia as a splinter group in the country’s north.
In its statement, AFRICOM reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Somali government to disrupt terrorist networks and safeguard both Somali and American interests. It emphasized that U.S. and Somali forces will continue to target militant hideouts and deny terrorist groups the freedom to operate in Somalia’s remote regions.