The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for a deadly assault on a Puntland military base in northeastern Somalia.
The attack, executed Tuesday, involved 12 militants and two explosive-laden vehicles, the group announced on its Telegram channel. According to IS, the operation killed 22 Puntland military personnel and injured dozens more.
Somali authorities have yet to issue a statement regarding the incident, leaving many unanswered questions in its wake.
On the day of the attack, Puntland security forces reported repelling IS suicide bombers near Dharjaale in the Bari region. Captain Yusuf Mohamed, a counter-terrorism officer, confirmed the deaths of nine suicide attackers and injuries to several soldiers.
Since its formal recognition as Somalia’s IS branch in 2017, the group has entrenched itself in Puntland’s mountainous regions. While initially seen as a lesser threat compared to al-Shabaab, IS has grown more formidable.
Security analysts attribute this rise to an influx of foreign fighters and a steady flow of revenue through extortion. This evolution has made IS in Somalia a critical node in the group’s global operations.
