U.S., Puntland Forces Launch Predawn Assault on ISIS-Somalia Hideouts in Cal Miskaad Mountains
In a coordinated counter-terrorism operation, U.S. special operations forces, in partnership with Puntland Counter-Terrorism Forces (PCTF), carried out a predawn raid on ISIS-Somalia positions in the Baalade Valley within the Cal Miskaad mountain range.
The mission targeted cave hideouts in the Bakuuje and Mareero areas, long used by militants as bases for operations in northeastern Somalia.
Reports indicate that more than 100 U.S. operators were deployed via MH-60 helicopters, supported by MQ-9 Reaper drones overhead, while roughly 200 PCTF troops followed up on the ground. The operation came after several days of U.S. airstrikes that had already eliminated multiple ISIS fighters, softening their positions prior to the ground assault.
Officials described the operation as a tactical success, noting that key ISIS fighters were killed or captured and cave hideouts destroyed. The raid marks one of the first known joint ground operations involving U.S. forces in Puntland, highlighting a shift from airstrikes alone to combined arms operations in challenging terrains.
The rugged landscape of the Cal Miskaad Mountains, with its steep hills and extensive cave systems, has historically provided safe havens for ISIS-Somalia militants, complicating efforts by regional and international forces to dismantle the group.
Analysts say that integrating air power with local ground forces significantly increases the likelihood of neutralizing entrenched militant positions.
While the full impact of the operation remains to be independently verified, Puntland authorities hailed the mission as a critical blow to ISIS-Somalia’s operational capabilities.
Security experts caution, however, that remnants of the group may disperse to other remote areas, potentially prolonging instability if follow-up operations are not sustained.
The joint operation underscores continued international commitment to combating terrorism in Somalia and the broader Horn of Africa region, while demonstrating the strategic importance of cooperation between U.S. forces and regional security units in dismantling entrenched militant networks.
