In a statement posted on Facebook, Puntland Security Forces (PSF) gave brief details about the operation carried out at Timirshe and Tuurmasaale villages.
The PSF thanked locals for their cooperation during the security operation but they have not disclosed information about any casualties or arrests made during the planned operation to target ISIS fighters in the mountainous area of Puntland State.
Locals in areas close to ISIS hideouts complained of threats and extortion by the proscribed group that, along with Al-Shabaab, maintains a presence in areas that are largely inaccessible due to poor infrastructure.
The Puntland State Government ramped up pressure on Al-Shabaab and ISIS forces recently, and security analysts believe the security reform initiated by the administration of President Said Abdullahi Deni has resulted in increased efficiency, accountability and coordination between the various security forces in Puntland.
This article first appeared in the © Puntland Post, 2020 and is republished with permission