Thursday 13, March 2025 {HMC}  According to authorities, Puntland security forces killed a senior Islamic State commander responsible for directing drone attacks using explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicles.

Identified as a foreign national, the militant was killed in a Puntland-led operation that took place in the Lugta-Huraanhur and Togga Raq-raq areas of the Al Misakdaad mountains of the Bari region, according to a statement from the Hillaac Operation Command.

Officials did not reveal if other ISIS fighters were killed in the operation; they, however, said Puntland forces expanded their control of the area, forcing the militants to retreat.

Just a day earlier, Puntland forces recovered a fixed-wing drone they suspect was used by ISIS militants in the same area.

The UAV was found during counterterrorism operations against militant hideouts. The use of explosive-laden drones has constantly posed a danger to Puntland security forces in their fight against ISIS.

The group operating in Somalia was the first to use explosive-Laden UAVs for long-range attacks, enabling precision strikes from afar.

Puntland has been embroiled in prolonged counterterrorism efforts against ISIS and al-Shabab insurgents.

For the most part, security operations have been intensified to subdue the respective threats imposed by these extremist factions in the enrouting mountain terrain where these militant groups have a strong foothold.