Puntland security forces reported that an airstrike in the Bari region killed over 13 foreign Daesh/ISIS fighters. The operation targeted terrorist hideouts, uncovering former ISIS bases. While the responsible country wasn't disclosed, the strike followed recent AFRICOM airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia. Security forces have been conducting counterterrorism operations for over a month, liberating several areas. Somalia continues to face threats from al-Shabaab and ISIS amid ongoing government efforts to combat terrorism.

Security forces in Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland reported on Monday that a recent airstrike in the Bari region resulted in the deaths of more than 13 foreign Daesh/ISIS fighters.

The airstrikes targeted terrorist hideouts as part of an ongoing counterterrorism operation over the past 24 hours, according to regional security officials.

“The airstrike operation in the last 24 hours has killed more than 13 foreign ISIS terrorists in the Dhasaq area, which is part of the Calmiskaad mountain range,” Puntland’s counterterrorism unit stated on Monday.

Security forces have also carried out extensive operations in the Hararyo and Toga-Jeceel areas, expanding their mission to other Daesh/ISIS strongholds.

During the operation, they uncovered bases that had been previously used by ISIS terrorist groups, the unit said in a separate statement on X.

The regional security forces did not specify which country carried out the airstrike. However, the strike comes more than a week after US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed conducting airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia in coordination with the Somali government.

AFRICOM stated that multiple ISIS-Somalia operatives were killed in those strikes.

Security forces have been conducting operations against the terror group for over a month, successfully liberating large areas from the group’s control.

Somalia has faced persistent insecurity for years, with the primary threats coming from terrorist groups al-Shabaab and ISIS.

Since 2007, al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency against the Somali government and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a multidimensional mission authorized by the African Union and mandated by the UN Security Council.

The terror group has intensified its attacks since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an "all-out war" against them.