In a high-stakes pre-dawn assault, more than 100 American special operations troops teamed up with Puntland Counter-Terrorism Forces (PCTF) to hit ISIS-Somalia strongholds in the Baalade Valley. The strike targeted cave positions held by 10-15 ISIS fighters in the rugged Bakuuje and Mareero areas of the Cal Miskaad range.
Thunder from the Skies: Helicopters and Drones in Deadly Raid
The elite US troops arrived by MH-60 helicopters, supported by overhead MQ-9 Reaper drones. After days of relentless US airstrikes that killed multiple militants, PCTF pushed in with roughly 200 troops for close-quarters battles inside fortified caves. Fierce fighting lasted two to four hours, involving foreign ISIS fighters from Syria, Turkey, and Ethiopia.
Victory with No US Casualties — Senior ISIS Leader Killed
By sunrise, US and Puntland forces withdrew with no American casualties reported. Early intel confirms a senior ISIS-Somalia commander and several aides were killed, alongside 5 to 10 militants overall. Forces also destroyed weapons caches and equipment used in gold-mining operations that funded ISIS activities.
Operation Hilaac Tightens Grip on Cal Miskaad Mountains
Puntland’s leadership declared that Operation Hilaac now controls nearly all of the Cal Miskaad mountains. Their goal: wipe out ISIS-Somalia by December 2025.
