At least five soldiers from the Puntland Defense Forces were killed and several others injured after a roadside bomb explosion struck a military vehicle on Friday along the road linking Bosaso and Dhaadaar in the rugged Calmiskaad Mountains.
According to local sources, the explosion occurred around midday when the military vehicle was traveling through the mountainous area. The blast caused heavy casualties among the troops, with at least five soldiers confirmed dead and several others wounded.
Security officials suspect that the attack was carried out by militants linked to the extremist group Islamic State in Somalia, which has been operating in the Calmiskaad mountain range for several years.
The incident comes amid criticism directed at Puntland authorities over what some observers say has been a slowdown in military operations against militant groups hiding in the Calmiskaad mountains. Analysts warn that reduced pressure on the militants may have allowed them to regroup and carry out attacks against security forces.
Sources also revealed that during a recent meeting of the Puntland Council of Ministers, officials were presented with a report indicating that ISIS militants in the region continue to receive steady supplies.
According to security sources familiar with the matter, the group reportedly obtains food and livestock from some rural residents who maintain links with the militants, allowing them to sustain their presence in the mountainous terrain.
The attack also comes just days after the United States Africa Command carried out an airstrike targeting ISIS positions in the Baallade valley within the Calmiskaad mountains of Bari region. AFRICOM said the strike was aimed at disrupting militant operations and limiting the group’s ability to plan and launch attacks.
Authorities are expected to intensify security operations in the area as concerns grow over the resurgence of militant activity in parts of northern Somalia.