(17 Mar 2025) GAROWE (Halqabsi News) – Puntland security forces have successfully repelled an overnight attack by ISIS militants in the Xabley area of Ufayn district, Bari region, as part of the ongoing ‘Operation Lighting ’ targeting militant strongholds in the Cal-Miskaad mountains.
Military officials in Xabley confirmed that ISIS fighters launched the attack in an attempt to disrupt Puntland’s advance toward Miiraale, where intelligence reports suggest the group is regrouping after its defeat in Togga Jeceel.
“The militants launched an assault to halt our momentum, but our forces crushed their attack and continue advancing,” a Puntland security officer stated.
On Monday, Puntland forces escalated operations in Miiraale, targeting ISIS strongholds and reclaiming critical water sources. Intelligence sources describe Miiraale as one of ISIS’s last remaining gathering points in Cal-Miskaad.
In recent days, Puntland troops have seized several strategic ISIS bases, along with stockpiles of weapons, supplies, and hidden caches buried underground.
The Cal-Miskaad offensive is pivotal in Puntland’s campaign to eradicate ISIS, with security forces committed to eliminating the group’s presence in the region.
Halqabsi News
