Scores killed in Somalia in clash between security forces, Islamic State

Washington –

Almost 70 people were killed, and up to 50 other wounded during 24 hours of fighting between the Islamic State fighters and Somalia security forces in the Puntland region, they said on Wednesday.

At least 15 Puntland soldiers and more than 50 militants were killed in a fierce struggle around the Dharin and Kurak area in the Cal Miskaad Mountains in the Bari Puntland region, multiple Puntland security officers said, speaking of the state of anonymity because they were not authorized to determine the media.

In an interview on Wednesday with the Somalian service of VOA, spokesman for Puntland security operations, Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed said that the fights that started on Tuesday were the hardest since Puntland launched an offensive against the Islamic State groups last month mountains in the mountains.

“We have confirmed that at least 57 Islamic state militants, all foreigners, were killed during the fight in the last 24 hours,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed refused to say how much Puntland soldiers were wounded or lost, but suggested that the victims were difficult.

“Fighting takes place in a mountainous area where militants use improvised explosives. The struggles of this nature in such an environment, the offensive force often suffers more victims than veterans,” he said.

Voa could not independently check the claim of 57 militants killed, but it was said that a graphic video on social networks shows the scenes of the bodies of militants torn in the mountainous area.

Ahmed said on Tuesday night that the United Arab Emirates had performed a strike of an unmanned aircraft against the ISA militants in the area to support Puntland forces.

The Puntland forces statement announced that their troops had received the terrain.

“Puntland forces have successfully captured a strategic village of Dharin in Tajg Jecel, dealing with a significant impact on the operational capabilities of the extremist group in the region,” the statement said.

He added: “The forces expelled the enemy from the areas of which they fought along the soil.”

These latest conflicts followed only a few days after the US war planes were targeting a branch of the Islamic State in Somalia, hitting what officials described as high operatives in the Mountain stronghold of the terrorist group.

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday Air Force on social networks, describing the main target as “a higher ISIS attack planner of the attack and other terrorists he recruited and led.”

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thanked the US for “unwavering support” in the “fight against international terrorism”.

Military campaign

Puntland started a military offensive called “Hilac Campaign” against extremist groups in the region last month last month after months of preparation.

The claims of the Puntland commander presented in connection with various battles indicate more than 150 militants of the Islamic State.

Puntland leader, Abdullahi Deni said, urged the public to support the surgery, which he said was aimed at rejecting the Islamic State militants from their hiding places in mountainous areas.

The operation received public support. On Monday, hundreds of residents came to Bosaso Street, a commercial center of Puntland, to show against a terrorist group and show support for a military campaign.

Puntland is a Member State in Somalia, but its relationship with the Federal Government in the country was tightened by political conflicts, and the region is considered a semi -automatic.

Analysts say Rift between the two sides limited each cooperation between the Federal Government and the Puntland Regional State, including the fight against terrorists.

“Operation such as this requires logistical support and reinforcement, and only regional states cannot handle it. The support and involvement of the Federal Government is necessary, “former Somalia Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmake told Voa.

“The Islamic State is a common enemy for Somalce. Politicians should separate national interests and political differences that can later be solved by negotiations. National interests, including security and development, should not be politicized,” the former head of the National Intelligence told VOA, General Brigadier General Abdirahman Turyare.

Is in Puntland

Puntland has withstanding terrorist attacks committed by al-Shabab militants and Islamic States, but it seems that a military surgery that is in progress is focused.

The group has a relatively small presence in Somalia compared to al-Shabab associated with al-Qaid, but experts have warned of growing activity.

US military officials and Somalian safety experts reported that he had increased the number of membership in Somalia last year.

Previously, there were estimated between 100 and 400 fighters, but Somalian safety and intelligence experts say the number has grown to between 500 and 600.

It is said that most of the newcomers are from the Middle East and East and North Africa.

Fadumo Yasine Cave opposed these reports.