A new blow to ISIS in Puntland… Arrest of the logistics and communications chief
Puntland security forces announced that they had carried out a targeted operation resulting in the arrest of a key leader of the ISIS terrorist organization.
Local media, citing a security official from the Puntland government, reported that the forces detained Abdelrazak Yassin Mohamed, known as “Sougoli,” one of the most prominent logistics and communications officials for ISIS in the Al-Miskad mountains in the Bari region of northeastern Somalia. He is believed to have played a central role in the group for years, using his detailed knowledge of rugged mountain routes to facilitate the movement of food, medical supplies, and financial resources. He was also responsible for securing communication equipment and coordinating the exchange of information among members hiding in the area, in addition to maintaining direct links with senior ISIS leaders in Bari.
According to the same source, Sougoli had fled the region after his role was exposed, but was pursued for more than two weeks by Puntland’s special security units before being apprehended during a precise operation based on intelligence information.
This operation is part of a broader security campaign launched by Puntland to sever ISIS supply lines. Authorities recently imposed a full curfew on areas near the Balade and Taskiq rivers, allowing vehicle movement only during limited hours in the daytime to prevent supplies from reaching ISIS through rural routes leading to the Bari mountains.
The Puntland government stated that the arrest of Sougoli constitutes “a major blow” to the supply network that ISIS cells rely on to maintain their presence in the mountains, vowing to bring before justice anyone caught providing support to the group.
Authorities also enforced a strict curfew in areas suspected of aiding hidden members of the organization, after some residents refused to comply with evacuation orders. Several civilians were arrested for obstructing security operations. Security forces halted all nighttime movement of people and vehicles, noting that most attempts to supply the group occur at night.
During the campaign, security forces seized several vehicles suspected of transporting food and supplies to the group. Military officials reported that, under increased pressure, ISIS members resorted to targeting nomadic herders and seizing livestock and supplies to compensate for the sharp decline in their resources.
The Puntland government previously announced that five ISIS members were killed in a U.S. drone strike in the Bari region, including both Somalis and foreigners, according to local media on Monday.
Authorities stressed that these airstrikes play a vital role in supporting Somali ground forces in remote areas as part of the ongoing war against ISIS, which continues to seek a foothold in the country.
The Al-Miskad area in northeastern Somalia remains a strategic refuge for the group. Although ISIS-Somalia is smaller and less equipped than Al-Shabab, it has maintained a presence in certain northeastern regions, particularly in the Goliss and Al-Miskad mountains, taking advantage of the difficult terrain to carry out swift attacks against local security forces.
ISIS-Somalia is a local branch of the global organization, established in 2015 by a splinter faction from Al-Shabab.
