Somalia’s forces have repelled a suicide attack from Islamic state on a military base in Puntland. This latest development on Tuesday comes against the backdrop of numerous attacks from Al Shabaab with the government doing the necessary to quell insecurity.
Somali security forces thwarted a large-scale attack by Islamic State suicide bombers on a military base in Puntland on Tuesday, marking the group’s most sophisticated assault in the region to date.
The attack, which coincided with a visit by Puntland’s deputy parliamentary speaker, left nine suicide bombers dead and several soldiers injured, according to Captain Yusuf Mohamed of Puntland’s counter-terrorism forces.
The raid occurred near Dharjaale in the Bari region, weeks after Puntland launched a major offensive against both Islamic State and al Shabaab, an al Qaeda-linked group. Puntland State TV confirmed the casualties, reporting that eight suicide bombers were among those killed.
Islamic State has been based in Puntland’s mountainous areas since 2017, gradually evolving from a minor threat into a key player in the jihadist network, fueled by foreign fighters and extortion. Analysts suggest the attack was a preemptive move ahead of Puntland’s announced military offensive.
« This appears to be a direct attempt to mimic al Shabaab’s complex attack strategies, » said Jay Bahadur, co-director of investigative consultancy Scopus.
