Somalia: Key ISIS commander surrenders in mountain stronghold

In a significant breakthrough for Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts, security forces have captured a high-ranking Islamic State commander known as “Laahoor” in the rugged Cal Miskaad mountains. The arrest comes just days after U.S. airstrikes rattled ISIS positions in the region, marking a decisive phase in Puntland’s weeks-long offensive against militant groups.

Abdirahman Shirwac Aw-Saciid, who headed the group’s assassination squad and managed its extortion network, surrendered to authorities in northeastern Puntland state. His capture reflects the growing pressure on ISIS’s Somali wing, which has recently gained prominence within the global jihadist network.

The group’s evolution has worried security experts, particularly after December’s sophisticated attack using booby-trapped vehicles against a military base. This tactical advancement, coupled with improved revenue collection and an influx of foreign fighters, had signaled ISIS’s growing capabilities in the Horn of Africa.

While historically overshadowed by al-Shabaab, ISIS’s Somalia franchise has emerged as an increasingly significant threat in a country still grappling with the aftermath of civil war. Puntland’s offensive, launched in December, claims several ISIS bases captured, though the challenge of establishing lasting stability remains formidable in Somalia’s complex security landscape.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that Saturday’s U.S. airstrikes resulted in significant militant casualties, highlighting the intensifying international effort to combat the growing ISIS presence in the region.