Saturday 15, Febr,2025 {HMC} Alexander Trufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Yair Horn – are due to be released in Gaza today in exchange for the freeing of 369 Palestinians by Israel.

Hamas says it expects indirect negotiations with Israel to start next week on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Gaza’s Health Ministry has confirmed 48,239 deaths in Israel’s war on Gaza while 111,676 people have been wounded. The Government Media Office has updated its death toll to at least 61,709 people, saying thousands missing under the rubble are now presumed dead.

At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023, attacks and more than 200 were taken captive.

Source: AJ

Saturday 15, Febr,2025 {HMC}  An intense airstrikes were carried out in the Calmiskaad area of the Bari region, targeting ISIS militants. The operation inflicted significant damage on the group’s infrastructure and resulted in the deaths of several key members.

According to a statement released by the Puntland Darawish Forces, the operation successfully destroyed a workshop used by ISIS to manufacture explosives and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs). The statement also confirmed that all remaining militants present at the site were eliminated during the operation.

Among those killed was a senior ISIS operative, marking a major blow to the group’s operations in the region. The militants, including foreign fighters, have been using the mountainous terrain of Calmiskaad as a hideout to plan and execute attacks.

This operation is part of ongoing efforts by Puntland forces to dismantle ISIS networks in the region and curb their influence. The latest strikes underscore the continued threat posed by the group and the determination of local forces to neutralize their capabilities.

Source SONNA

Saturday 15, Febr,2025 {HMC} Ma’awisley local defense forces have captured Mohamed Rashid Abdi Hussein, the former chairman of the Ganuribad area in the Hiiraan region, who was found carrying Al-Shabaab-issued receipts used for extortion.

The arrest took place on Saturday in El-Hero, a locality under the Mahaas district.

The receipts seized from the suspect are typically used by Al-Shabaab to impose illegal taxation on businesses and vehicles traveling through their areas of control. Authorities confirmed that Hussein has been detained in a Mahaas district prison, where he remains under investigation.

The Deputy Security Commissioner of Mahaas stated that an inquiry is underway to determine the full extent of Hussein’s involvement with the militant group.

“We are conducting investigations into this man. What was seized from him were receipts that Al-Shabaab used to extort money from people and vehicles. The local force received intelligence about him and arrested him. I will present the investigation results soon,” the official said.

Ma’awisley forces have ramped up operations against Al-Shabaab in recent weeks as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the group’s revenue streams and weaken its influence in the Hiiraan region.

Saturday 15, Febr,2025 {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met on Friday during the 38th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa. It was their first face-to-face talks since signing the Ankara Declaration in December 2024, a diplomatic breakthrough to ease apprehensions after a yearlong rift between the two nations.
The meeting focused on restoring full diplomatic engagement, strengthening security cooperation, and negotiating Ethiopia’s contested bid for maritime access through Somalia. Their discussion follows a period of heightened tensions triggered by Ethiopia’s controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland in early 2024. As part of the deal, Ethiopia would secure 20 kilometres of coastline for a naval base in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland’s independence.

Somalia, which considers Somaliland part of its sovereign territory, viewed the agreement as an unacceptable violation of its territorial integrity. In response, Mogadishu cut diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, recalled its ambassador, and threatened to expel Ethiopian troops from Somalia.

Amid the rapidly deteriorating situation, Turkey stepped in to mediate, leading to the signing of the Ankara Declaration on December 11, 2024. The agreement de-escalated hostilities and established a framework for diplomatic negotiations. Ethiopia agreed to work toward securing commercial access to the Red Sea through Somalia under a negotiated settlement while implicitly backing away from its contentious naval base agreement with Somaliland. In January 2025, the two nations restored full diplomatic representation, opening the door for further discussions.
A major focus of the Addis Ababa meeting was the future of Ethiopian troops in Somalia. Just half a year ago, Mogadishu had vowed to cut all ties with Addis Ababa, threatening to expel Ethiopian troops over what it saw as an unforgivable violation of its sovereignty. Ethiopia, which had previously stationed up to 10,000 soldiers under ATMIS, intends to maintain a military presence under AUSSOM to continue operations against al-Shabaab insurgents.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Omar ‘Balcad’ confirmed that Somalia is working to include Ethiopia within AUSSOM’s troop structure, though most quotas have already been allocated. A Somali delegation is set to visit Ethiopia to resolve outstanding issues, including troop numbers and command structures, ensuring that Ethiopian involvement aligns with Somalia’s sovereignty and security interests.

Beyond politics and security, the economic implications of Ethiopia’s pursuit of sea access were a likely key topic of discussion in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia, which currently depends on Djibouti for 95% of its maritime trade, has long sought alternative routes to the sea to diversify its trade infrastructure. While Somalia stands to benefit from port agreements with Ethiopia, Mogadishu seems wary of setting a precedent that could compromise its sovereignty over coastal territories.

The ports of Mogadishu and Kismayo have been floated as the most viable options for Ethiopian trade, but significant logistical and security challenges remain. Chief among them is the presence of al-Shabaab, which continues to control or threaten key transport corridors linking Ethiopia to Somali ports.

Security challenges also persist as al-Shabaab continues to exploit regional instability, launching attacks aimed at weakening state authority and disrupting diplomatic progress. Meanwhile, internal Somali political divisions remain deep, with opposition factions expressing skepticism about any agreement that accommodates Ethiopian ambitions.

While the meeting in Addis Ababa marked a watershed moment in the reconciliation between Somalia and Ethiopia, several critical issues remain unresolved. Ethiopia has yet to formally withdraw from its MoU with Somaliland, raising concerns in Mogadishu that Addis Ababa may still be pursuing a dual-track maritime strategy.

Source Hiiraan online