(25 Mar 2025) GAROWE (Halqabsi News) – Fierce fighting erupted overnight and continued into Tuesday morning between Puntland Defence Forces and ISIS militants in the Xabley mountains, located in Ufayn district of Bari region.
The clashes were triggered after ISIS fighters launched an assault on a Puntland military outpost in the Dhaban-qooxle area, a remote and rugged part of the Cal-Miskaad mountain range.
Puntland forces, who had reportedly been on high alert, repelled the attack and inflicted heavy casualties on the militants. Sources confirmed that several ISIS fighters were killed, while sporadic fighting is still ongoing in the surrounding hills.
At least one Puntland soldier was killed and six others injured, according to preliminary reports. Most of the injuries are believed to be minor.
The Puntland government has yet to release an official statement, but military officials on the ground say the area remains tense, with reinforcements deployed to prevent further ambushes.
Puntland officials have vowed to flush out all remaining militants before the end of Ramadan.
Halqabsi News
