Monday September 29, 2025
Garowe (HOL) – Puntland regional forces have killed members
of the ISIS cell accused of planting the landmine that killed Brig. Gen.
Qalyare, commander of the 2nd Brigade of the Puntland Dervishes, during an
operation in the Calmiskaad mountains.
Operation Hillaac said in a brief statement on Sunday that
seven ISIS fighters were killed and one captured in the Dhasan area of the
mountains.
Independent sources confirmed to HOL that Puntland lost one
soldier in the operation, while three others were injured. The bodies of the
slain militants are expected to be displayed on Monday.
Gen. Mahmoud Faadhig, spokesman for Operation Hillaac, said
the group was tracked down about 60 km from the site where Gen. Qalyare was
killed. He described the battle as intense, adding that the ISIS cell was
“destroyed.”
According to Gen. Faadhig, three ISIS members managed to
escape and are being pursued by Puntland forces. He also noted that laying
mines remains one of the group’s main tactics in its fight against Puntland.
Gen. Qalyare, one of Puntland’s senior commanders, was
killed last week in a landmine explosion during ongoing operations in the
mountains.