While Puntland forces with U.S. and UAE air support have made significant gains against the Islamic State, forcing its fighters to retreat, al Shabaab remains on the offensive as it expands operations across southern and central Somalia, strengthens regional ties with the Houthis and continues to carry out cross-border attacks. In November 2024, Puntland counterterrorism forces launched Operation Hilaac, an ongoing offensive aimed at countering the Islamic State threat. At the time, intelligence reports indicated that the number of Islamic State fighters, who included many foreign combatants, had grown from an estimated 200 to 300 in 2016 to approximately 1,000. Since the operation began, Puntland forces say they have killed hundreds of Islamic State foreign fighters, including those from Ethiopia, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania and Yemen. Despite lacking support from the Somali federal government due to long-standing political disputes, Puntland has received external backing, primarily in the form of airstrikes targeting Islamic State positions,...
