In a dramatic overnight military operation, U.S. special operations forces, acting under President Donald Trump’s authorization, joined Puntland Counter-Terrorism Forces (PCTF) in a powerful pre-dawn assault on ISIS-Somalia strongholds in the rugged Baalade Valley, DOYA NEWS has learned.
The coordinated offensive—one of the most aggressive joint actions in the region this year—targeted entrenched ISIS militants operating from fortified cave systems in the Cal Miskaad mountain range of northeastern Somalia.
A Massive, Precision-Driven Strike
More than 100 American special operators were flown into the Baalade Valley aboard MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, while MQ-9 Reaper drones provided aerial surveillance and targeted strikes to soften ISIS defensive positions. The operation focused on the Bakuuje and Mareero areas, long known to shelter an estimated 10 to 15 ISIS fighters, including foreign militants from Syria, Turkey, and Ethiopia.
According to security sources, the assault followed several days of sustained U.S. airstrikes that eliminated multiple ISIS members and weakened their defensive posture.
Roughly 200 Puntland Counter-Terrorism Forces moved in immediately after the U.S. teams, forming a joint assault force that struck deep into the mountainous hideouts.
Hours of Intense Cave-to-Cave Battles
The raid led to a fierce two- to four-hour battle inside heavily fortified cave networks, where ISIS fighters mounted stiff resistance. Clashes involved close-quarter combat, with militants attempting to repel advancing forces using narrow tunnels, booby traps, and improvised barriers.
Despite the intensity of the fighting, no American casualties were reported as of this morning.
Preliminary battlefield assessments indicate that a senior ISIS-Somalia commander and several of his top aides were neutralized. Between five and ten militants were killed in total. Troops also destroyed weapons stockpiles, communications gear, and equipment tied to ISIS-linked gold-mining activities that have served as a major revenue stream for the group.
Major Strategic Gains for Puntland
Puntland officials say the operation marks a critical turning point in Operation Hilaac, the regional counter-terrorism initiative launched to dismantle ISIS-Somalia’s remaining footholds in the Cal Miskaad mountains.
Authorities report that their forces now control nearly the entire mountain range—one of the group’s last known strongholds—and expect to completely eradicate ISIS-Somalia by December 2025 if current momentum continues.
A Significant Blow to ISIS in East Africa
The joint U.S.–Puntland strike is being hailed as one of the most significant blows against ISIS-affiliated militants in East Africa in recent years. Analysts say the operation likely undermines the group’s command structure, disrupts its funding networks, and weakens its operational capabilities in the region.
More details are expected as military officials continue post-operation assessments.