Somalia: ISIS operations’ commander killed in eastern state of Puntland

WORLD, Jan. 14 (YPA) – Mogadishu announced on Friday that Commander of ISIS operations, Somalia branch, killed in armed clashes in the eastern state of Puntland.

Puntland State forces killed Abu-Albara Al Amani, the ISIS  commander during operation in Bari region, northeast Somalia, Somali National News Agency (SONNA) reported, citing Puntland State’s statement.

According to the statement, Abu-Albara was killed after the group carried out a raid at a police station in the municipality of Balidhidin in the region overnight.

During the raid on Balidhidin police station, one soldier from Puntland State forces was also killed, the statement read.

The police identified the dead commander to be Amhara origin from Ethiopia, and coerced a significant number of Ethiopians to join to the group.

The group appointed Abu-Albara as the head of IS operations in July 2021, following the demise of his predecessor Abu Waliid Al-muhaajir, who succumbed to injuries sustained during a counter-terrorism operation conducted by Puntland security forces in the vicinity of AlMiskaad hills.

E.M