ISIS-Somalia Fighter Detonates Explosives After Puntland Forces Wound Him Planting Landmine in Cal Miskaad

A foreign national affiliated with ISIS-Somalia detonated explosives on himself on September 3, 2026 after Puntland Darawish forces wounded him while he was attempting to plant an improvised explosive device on the road linking the Sheebaab and Dhaadaar areas of the Cal Miskaad mountains, Bari region. The incident occurred amid wider Puntland operations launched the same day across multiple locations in the range, part of the 'Hilaac' (Lightning) offensive against ISIS-Somalia's mountain redoubt that has been running since December 2024. Col. Mahmoud Shire Mohamed, the Cal Miskaad sector commander, said Puntland forces claim to have captured 48 caves and ISIS outposts and destroyed dozens of drones and explosive devices since the offensive began.