GAROWE, Somalia, January 1 – The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a military base in Puntland, Somalia, which occurred on December 31. The group announced the assault via its Telegram channel, stating that 12 militants and two bomb-laden vehicles carried out the attack. The group reported at least 22 Puntland military personnel were killed and dozens more injured.
Somali authorities have not yet issued a detailed response to the claim. However, local sources confirmed the attack near the town of Dharjaale in the Bari region. Puntland’s security forces had previously reported repelling an assault by Islamic State suicide bombers.
Captain Yusuf Mohamed, an officer with Puntland’s counter-terrorism unit, confirmed that nine suicide bombers were killed in the incident. Several soldiers were also injured, but exact numbers have not been made public.
The Islamic State group established its Somali branch in 2017 and has since intensified its activities in the region, particularly in the mountainous areas of Puntland. Although initially considered a minor threat compared to the dominant al-Shabaab insurgency, IS in Somalia has grown stronger in recent years. This expansion is attributed to an influx of foreign fighters and an increasing ability to extract revenue from local businesses.
The group’s leader, Abdulqadir Mumin, has been recognized by some media outlets as the global leader of IS in Somalia, marking a shift in the group’s influence within the broader jihadist network.
