Islamic State insurgency in Puntland

The Islamic State insurgency in Puntland started on 22 October 2015 after former al-Shabaab jihadist Abdul Qadir Mumin pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the Islamic State, creating the "Islamic State in Somalia" (Abnaa ul-Calipha) and settling in the Galgala region, in Puntland.

Since the onset of the Islamic State in Puntland, it has engaged in numerous clashes with al-Shabab, Puntland forces, and the United States' military. In 2016, the Islamic State took control of Qandala for nearly two weeks. In 2018, heavy fighting broke out between the Islamic State and al-Shabab. In 2019, the Islamic State carried out IED attacks. Puntland Forces also executed several Al-Shaabab and Islamic State militants. In 2020, Puntland began a campaign against the Islamic State with the help of the US military. The Islamic State claimed to have killed US troops. In 2021, the Islamic State continued hit and run attacks. In 2023, the Islamic State increased its activity and engaged in a few skirmishes with Al-Shabaab in 2023. On January 25, Bilal al-Sudani was killed in a raid by DEVGRU.

In November 2024, the semi-autonomous state of Puntland declared a major military offensive, led by the Puntland Security Forces, Puntland Dervish Forces,Puntland Maritime Police Forces, with support from the United States Africa Command, and the United Arab Emirate Airforce against the Islamic State in the Bari region. The operation was codenamed Hilaac Operation. This marked the first time that Puntland forces had launched a major military offensive on this scale since the Qandala campaign in 2016.