US Strikes ISIS in Calmiskaad Mountains; Al-Shabaab Captures Adan Yabaal in Somalia

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia on April 11, 2025, in the Mirale Valley area of the Calmiskaad mountains southeast of Bosaso, Puntland. The strike killed one ISIS militant, with AFRICOM reporting no civilian casualties. President Biden expressed support for Somalia's efforts to defeat ISIS. The airstrike is part of Operation Hilaac, an ongoing campaign by Somali and allied forces to eliminate ISIS presence in Puntland. Puntland Counter-Terrorism Forces have entered the third phase of their operation to clear ISIS militants from the Calmiskaad mountains, with reports of two foreign ISIS members surrendering on April 15. US and UAE aerial support has played a role in recent successes. Following a series of defeats for ISIS, Puntland forces are preparing for a final assault on remaining militant strongholds. Authorities have urged nomadic communities to avoid operation zones for safety. Separately, Al-Shabaab militants launched a major offensive on the strategic town of Adan Yabaal in Middle Shabelle, located about 220 kilometers north of Mogadishu. Somali government and local forces retreated after heavy fighting, and the town is now under Al-Shabaab control. Al-Shabaab has also launched offensives in Hiran. The loss of Adan Yabaal, a key military base and the president's turf, underscores ongoing challenges for Somali security forces in central Somalia.