Security forces in Puntland State, Somalia, have seized a boat carrying military supplies off the coast of the Bari region, signaling a significant development in the region’s ongoing counter-terrorism efforts. The boat, intercepted on Monday night near the Qaw area, was found to be transporting military uniforms and equipment.
The vessel was captured approximately 1,600 km northeast of Mogadishu, and while its final destination remains unclear, it is known to have been manned by Somali nationals. The Puntland Counter-Terrorism Task Force has initiated an investigation to uncover the intended recipients of the supplies and the purpose of the shipment.
This incident follows a US airstrike on Friday targeting an ISIS hideout in the Cal Maskat area of the Bari region. The airstrike, conducted in support of Puntland’s military operations against the Islamic State in Somalia (ISIS), highlights the heightened focus on combating terrorism in the area.
Puntland forces, locally known as the Dervish, have been engaged in operations against the ISIS faction operating in the Golis mountains of the Bari region. The local government has been particularly vigilant in investigating suspicious maritime activities, including the interception of this boat.
Mohamed Mohamud, a maritime expert from Puntland’s main port city of Bossaso, emphasized that connecting the boat and its crew to ISIS jihadists would reinforce the importance of the regional government’s anti-terrorism campaign.
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has been actively visiting key locations, including the state capital, Garowe, and Bossaso, to bolster support for the military and reassert the government’s determination to combat terrorism, with international assistance proving crucial in these efforts.
The seizure of this boat further underscores Puntland’s commitment to preventing terrorist activities in the region, with additional coastal security measures implemented to restrict extremist access to the sea.