Bosaso (WDN) – Puntland’s regional government has commenced military preparations for a major offensive known as “Operation Onkod,” targeting Al-Shabaab militants entrenched in the Calmadow mountain range in the eastern Sanaag region.

According to a statement from Puntland’s military command, Brig. Gen. Abdirahman Mohamed (Ilig) met with officers and soldiers deployed on the front lines, commending their commitment to national defense and urging them to finalize preparations for the launch of Operation Onkod.

Deputy Commander of Puntland’s Defense Forces, Brig. Gen. Ilig, accompanied by senior military officials, conducted a front-line inspection of government troops stationed along the Calmadow range. The visit is part of a broader operational rollout aimed at clearing the area of terrorist elements.

 “These officers held strategic discussions with the troops, praised their discipline and dedication, and encouraged them to remain prepared for the upcoming campaign to rid the Calmadow mountains of terrorists hiding in the area,” the military statement noted.

Puntland authorities have described Operation Onkod as a decisive push to dislodge Al-Shabaab militants who have used the mountainous terrain as a safe haven for years, posing a persistent threat to regional security.

In a related development, Puntland’s Chief of Defense, Brigadier General Hussein Farah Aden (Hussein Dheere), visited the Yubbe area in the Ceerigaabo district of Sanaag. During the visit, he began the formal integration of local clan-based militias into the regional security forces — fighters who are expected to participate in the upcoming operation.

These efforts mark a coordinated military and community mobilization campaign aimed at extending state authority in remote regions of Puntland and weakening Al-Shabaab’s northern networks. The Calmadow offensive represents one of the most significant counterterrorism undertakings in Puntland in recent years, and officials say its success is vital to stabilizing the region and denying extremist groups safe operating space in Somalia’s north.

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