Bosaso (WDN)-In what marks a major victory for Puntland’s ongoing counterterrorism operations, remnants of the ISIS militant group holed up in the Miraale valley have begun surrendering en masse, overwhelmed, disoriented, and completely encircled by advancing government forces.

Three fighters—two foreign nationals and one Somali—emerged from hiding and handed themselves over to local pastoralists, who swiftly transferred them to Puntland’s Defense Forces. Their capture is expected to be officially announced in the coming hours.

These men were part of a fleeing contingent that had escaped relentless airstrikes targeting the ISIS hideout at the Miraale well. The strikes left scores of fighters dead, while the remainder were either trapped with no escape or scattered chaotically into the surrounding mountains.

One surrendering militant described the devastating impact: “Our men were either killed, surrounded, or lost in the mountains—confused, starving, with no direction. We had no choice but to give up.”

Puntland forces, who continue to sweep through the valley, reported discovering multiple bodies littering the airstrike zones. Among the debris, they found a camel the militants had used for transportation—now abandoned in the wake of their defeat.

The unraveling of the ISIS cell in Miraale is being hailed as a significant step toward restoring security in Puntland’s remote regions. As militants crumble under pressure and surrender in despair, Puntland’s determination to uproot extremism stands firm—and victorious.

WardheerNews