BOSASO – Puntland’s security forces are ramping up their offensive against ISIS strongholds, driving the militant group into retreat as clashes continue in key areas. Local officials report that ISIS fighters are fleeing from the battlefront, with some attempting to escape into neighboring territories.

According to sources, militants abandoning their positions in the Calmiskaad Mountains are moving toward the borders of Somaliland and southern Somalia, while others have been intercepted in rural areas of Puntland or captured at security checkpoints.

Puntland’s Deputy Police Commissioner has issued a public warning, stressing that the fleeing militants pose a potential security threat beyond Puntland’s borders. He urged communities to remain alert and cooperate with security forces in reporting suspicious activity.

The operation, which began in the strategically significant Calmiskaad Mountains in the Bari region, has seen intense fighting between Puntland forces and ISIS militants. Officials acknowledge that the battle has come at a cost, with casualties reported on both sides.

Despite the challenges, Puntland’s leadership remains resolute in its mission to eliminate ISIS’s presence in the region.