BOSASO, Puntland – In a significant development in the fight against terrorism, security forces in Somalia’s Puntland region have captured a Turkish national, Feyzul Hashim Suleyman, during a targeted operation. The arrest is part of the ongoing “Hilaac” offensive aimed at rooting out ISIS-affiliated militants from the Al-Miskaad mountains.
Puntland’s Darawish forces apprehended Feyzul Hashim Suleyman, a citizen of Turkey, in a planned raid in the Togga Balade area of the Bari region. This marks the second arrest of a Turkish national in the region within two months, following the capture of Hassan Ataar in June.
The primary figure is the detainee, Feyzul Hashim Suleyman. According to Puntland’s Darawish Force Commander, Gen. Ahmed Abdullahi Sheikh, the captured individual and others still at large are former members of the Turkish military. They are suspected of having links to the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey before joining ISIS in Syria and later being redeployed to Somalia.
The arrest took place in the Togga Balade area, within the Bari region of Puntland, a semi-autonomous state in northeastern Somalia. The operation was conducted as part of the fourth phase of “Operation Hilaac,” which is currently focused on the challenging terrain of the Al-Miskaad mountains.
The capture underscores the transnational nature of the terrorist threat in Somalia. It reveals a worrying trend of foreign fighters with professional military experience from other countries infiltrating the region to bolster extremist groups like ISIS-Somalia. This poses an elevated security risk not just for Somalia, but for international stability.
Puntland has been a key battleground against ISIS-affiliated militants, who have established a foothold in the mountainous areas as a rival to the more dominant al-Shabaab. The arrest of a Turkish national with alleged military expertise highlights the global connections of these groups. Authorities are investigating potential links between these individuals and international networks involved in human trafficking and other terrorist organizations, such as the PKK.
The incident emphasizes the critical need for enhanced international intelligence sharing and cooperation to combat the cross-border movement of experienced militants.
The apprehension of Feyzul Hashim Suleyman is more than a local security success; it is a stark reminder of the globalized nature of modern terrorism. As Puntland forces continue their arduous campaign in the Al-Miskaad mountains, the presence of foreign fighters complicates the battlefield and signals that the stability of the Horn of Africa remains intertwined with international security dynamics. This event will likely intensify calls for a coordinated global response to disrupt the flow of foreign fighters to conflict zones.
