Puntland and US Confirm Airstrike on Al-Shabaab Weapons Depot in Golis Mountains

GAROWE — The Government of Puntland and the United States have confirmed the success of a counterterrorism operation in the Al-Madow-Golis mountain range targeting an Al-Shabaab weapons storage facility in the Markad area.

The operation, conducted in coordination with Puntland authorities, struck a site used by Al-Shabaab to store weapons and ammunition intended to support terrorist activity and threaten the people of Puntland and Somalia. Puntland authorities and the United States described the operation as part of an expanding campaign to eliminate Al-Shabaab from northern Somalia.

“The Puntland government and the United States government have reaffirmed that this operation is part of an ongoing effort to weaken Al-Shabaab’s capabilities, deny terrorist groups safe havens, and foster lasting peace and stability in northern Somalia,” the Puntland Presidency said in a press release.

No details were immediately provided on casualties or the extent of damage caused by the operation.

Expanding US-Puntland Security Cooperation

The operation is the latest in a series of US-Puntland engagements aimed at degrading militant groups in northern Somalia. On August 2, 2026, a US delegation led by Major General Claude Tudor, Commander of Special Operations at US Africa Command, met Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni in Bosaso to discuss strengthening efforts against militant groups and improving security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Puntland’s presidency announced an agreement under which the United States would expand its military facility in Bosaso to support counter-terrorism operations and maritime security. According to reports citing Puntland security officials, the US did not previously have a formal military base in Bosaso and instead operated from an office used for intelligence gathering and coordination with AFRICOM’s headquarters in Djibouti. The new facility, to be built at Bosaso airport, would allow US air operations to be conducted directly from the city.

The engagement follows a pattern of regular high-level contacts between Washington and Garowe, including a May 2026 visit by Acting US Ambassador to Somalia Justin Davis to Garowe, where he met President Deni and senior Puntland officials to discuss security collaboration, Somalia’s political evolution, and economic advancement.

Ongoing Operations in Al-Madow and Al-Miskaad Mountains

The airstrike follows the Puntland State’s ongoing military campaign against ISIS militants in the Al-Miskaad Mountains of the Bari region, known as Operation Hilaac, which commenced in late 2024 and has led to substantial territorial gains and the dismantling of key ISIS strongholds. Puntland forces have reclaimed over 260 square kilometers, including more than 100 ISIS hideouts comprising training camps, ammunition depots, and command centers.

Puntland has also deployed additional troops to the Al-Miskaad mountain range as the operation against ISIS-affiliated fighters enters its concluding stage, with hundreds of newly assigned soldiers dispatched to the Baallade valley and adjacent areas to relieve units that have been participating in the year-long campaign.

The United States has conducted multiple airstrikes in support of Puntland’s efforts, including a strike in the Barakalash area of the Al-Miskaad mountains that killed at least five ISIS militants fleeing the conflict zone. A captured ISIS militant using GPS tracking was later identified as a Moroccan national, underscoring the presence of foreign fighters in the region.

The operation against Al-Shabaab in the Al-Madow mountains represents a parallel effort targeting the group’s presence in the Sanaag region, where it has maintained a sanctuary for well over a decade.

Critical Note

The confirmed airstrike on the Al-Shabaab weapons storage facility in Markad reflects the deepening security partnership between Puntland and the United States, particularly in targeting militant infrastructure in remote mountainous terrain. The operation’s focus on weapons and ammunition storage is tactically significant, as it seeks to degrade Al-Shabaab’s logistical capacity rather than only responding to attacks after they occur.

At the same time, the expansion of US military infrastructure in Bosaso and the reported expansion of CIA operations raise questions about the scope and long-term implications of American engagement in Puntland. The Puntland government has presented the partnership as essential for counter-terrorism and maritime security. The constitutional framework of Somalia vests authority for foreign military agreements with the federal government in Mogadishu, and the federal government has not publicly commented on the Bosaso agreement. The operation against Al-Shabaab in Markad demonstrates the operational value of the partnership, but the broader political and legal questions surrounding it remain unresolved.