Victory in the Valleys: How Puntland’s Dervish Forces Crushed ISIS in Bari

Victory in the Valleys: How Puntland’s Dervish Forces Crushed ISIS in Bari

The mountains between Miraale and Balade in Somalia’s Bari region echoed with gunfire — and then, with victory.

In a remarkable offensive, Puntland's elite Dervish Forces killed over 35 ISIS militants, including multiple foreign fighters, and dismantled one of the last major strongholds of the terror group in northern Somalia. Bodies of the fighters were presented to the media, proof that foreign influence in Somalia’s insurgency is real — and beatable.

The operation didn’t stop at the battlefield. Troops destroyed critical caches of weapons and intelligence, disrupting ISIS's ability to regroup and launch further attacks. Just days earlier, Puntland forces had seized the group’s command center in Miraale Valley — a place that had remained under ISIS control for years.

Now, with control restored and pressure building, the remnants of ISIS are reportedly retreating to the banks of the Balade River. But they’re running out of room — and time.

This victory is a turning point not just for Puntland but for Somalia as a whole. It affirms that coordinated ground offensives, backed by intelligence and local knowledge, can dismantle even the most entrenched extremist threats. It also sends a strong message: Somalia is no longer a battleground. It is reclaiming its future.