The operational capabilities of ISIS-Somalia is reported to have been weakened significantly following last year’s armed clashes with Puntland forces, who drove the group out of key areas in the Al-Miskaad Mountain range.
The fighting has inflicted heavy losses on ISIS-Somalia, destroying significant parts of its combat capabilities and forcing the group to abandon positions it had long held in the mountains.
A recent report by the UN Security Council estimates that ISIS-Somalia currently has between 150 and 250 fighters, including the group’s overall leader, Abdikadir Mumin, and his deputy, ISIS-Somalia leader, Abdirahman Fahiye.
This estimate differs significantly from previously reported figures. General Michael Langley stated that the group’s strength ranged between 1, 200 and 1, 500 fighters—most of whom were foreign militants brought into Somalia via clandestine smuggling routes between 2018 and 2023.
The decline in the group’s strength is attributed to a combination of ground operations by Puntland forces and airstrikes conducted by U.S. Forces (AFRICOM) and the United Arab Emirates.
As indicated by the data presented, more than 900 ISIS-Somalia fighters have been eliminated in military operations against the group up to early 2025.
A combination of ground assaults and airstrikes targeting the group’s positions has severely crippled its capabilities, diminishing ISIS-Somalia’s capacity to retake previously held territories or rebuild its military strength.
Nevertheless, the group retains its leadership and a contingent of fighters; this means that, despite its significantly reduced capacity, it remains an armed group capable of posing a security threat within Puntland.
