DHAHAR (WDN) – In a decisive move to restore security and stability to the Sanaag region, the Speaker of the Puntland Parliament, Abdirasaaq Mohamed Qaraje, announced that the Puntland government is launching a full-scale military operation aimed at eradicating Al-Shabaab militants from the Almadow Mountains.
Speaking at Dhahar, near the mountainous Al-Shabaab strongholds, Speaker Qaraje declared the government’s firm commitment to rid the region of the extremist group that has terrorized local communities for years.
“This marks the beginning of Operation Almadow,” Qaraje stated. “Al-Shabaab terrorists hiding in the Almadow mountains have committed heinous crimes—robbing and killing innocent civilians indiscriminately. Many families have been forcibly displaced. We are determined to end their presence once and for all.”
The Speaker emphasized that the operation is not merely a military campaign but a coordinated effort by Puntland’s civil and political leadership, including the Parliament and the regional government, to protect civilians and reclaim areas held hostage by terror.
The announcement follows a recent military build-up by Puntland’s armed forces in the region, as part of a broader campaign launched earlier this year to dismantle terrorist networks. That effort saw significant progress against the Daesh (ISIS) faction operating in Bari region, dealing a severe blow to the group’s influence.
With Al-Shabaab now the primary target, Operation Almadow signals a new phase in Puntland’s counterterrorism strategy—one driven by a unified leadership and a determination to secure the eastern highlands of Sanaag once and for all.
The campaign also reinforces Puntland’s role as a bulwark against violent extremism in Somalia’s northeast, with officials calling on local communities to support the operation and help flush out remaining militant elements.
On the other front in Cal-Miskaad, in what officials are hailing as another major triumph in the fight against terrorism, Puntland security forces have captured a foreign Daesh militant who fled from the shattered remnants of the group’s stronghold in the Baladlade Valley.
The arrest of the Yemeni national marks a significant moment of jubilation for Puntland’s security apparatus, which has been conducting sweeping operations to stamp out extremist elements in the northeastern region of Somalia. The detained fighter was tracked and captured while attempting to flee alone from the last known Daesh hideouts in the mountains near Bosaso.
“This is a proud moment for our forces and our people,” said Mahmood Mohamed Faadhigo, the official spokesperson for Operation Baladlade “Our troops captured a Daesh terrorist who had fled from the now-collapsed cell in the Baladlade Valley. He is a Yemeni national and was found alone, separated from the rest of the fleeing group.”
Faadhigo emphasized that the success of Operation Baladlade has left Daesh militants scattered and disorganized. “They are now fleeing in pairs or individually, with no coordinated presence remaining anywhere in Puntland,” he said. “Their structure has crumbled.”
The news has been met with widespread public celebration, as Puntland residents see the operation as a turning point in the region’s struggle against terrorism. Local leaders and citizens alike have praised the security forces for their vigilance and courage in chasing down even the last remnants of the once-feared militant group.
With Daesh’s power base dismantled and its foreign operatives on the run, Puntland officials say the region is entering a new era of security and hope. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing all remaining militants and ensuring peace and stability across the state.
WardheerNews