Calmiskaad (WDN) – Heavy fighting broke out overnight in the mountainous Bari region of Puntland after ISIS militants launched a surprise ambush on Puntland security forces, leaving multiple casualties dead and wounded.

Independent reports from the battlefield indicate that at least four Puntland soldiers were killed in the attack, while several others sustained injuries during the clashes. There are no independently verified reports regarding ISIS casualties.

Security sources said Puntland forces mounted fierce resistance against the assault, successfully pushing back the militants after hours of intense fighting. Puntland troops have in recent weeks been engaged in sustained military operations targeting ISIS hideouts in the Bari mountains, while also maintaining a high state of readiness against retaliatory attacks from the group.

Meanwhile, international partners supporting Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts reportedly carried out airstrikes targeting ISIS positions in the Calmiskaad mountain range. Preliminary reports suggest that some rural civilians may have been affected by the strikes, though details remain unclear.

The escalation comes as Puntland authorities renewed strict warnings to rural communities living near ISIS-controlled areas, ordering residents to evacuate until military operations against the group are completed.

The Bari regional police commander, who issued the warning, stated that civilians who remain inside ISIS operational zones could be treated as collaborators or individuals providing shelter to the militants.

“If residents refuse to leave areas occupied by terrorist groups, they will be considered supportive of their presence,” the commander warned.

He further stressed that Puntland authorities would not bear responsibility for civilian casualties resulting from future airstrikes, arguing that repeated evacuation warnings had already been issued.

The ongoing battles in Bari highlight Puntland’s intensifying campaign against ISIS, which has entrenched itself in the rugged mountain terrain of the region, using the difficult geography and remote hideouts to sustain its insurgency.

WardheerNews