Government forces in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in Somalia repelled IS attacks. After 24 hours of fighting in the mountainous area, it was announced that around 65 jihadists were killed.
The enemy was defeated on both sides, says Mohamud Faadhigo, spokesperson for Puntland's army.
Commanders, who wish to remain anonymous, tell AFP that the fighting began with a car filled with explosives detonating and several suicide bombers blowing themselves up.
The local defense force in Puntland has carried out several operations against the jihadist group IS in recent months, in some cases with support from American airpower.
Somalia has increasingly emerged as a stronghold for extremist IS in recent years. Among others, Abdulkadir Mumin lives here, who has been identified as IS's new global leader. Sheikh Mumin is known for his harsh rhetoric and has lived in Hjällbo in Gothenburg with his wife and daughter for many years. He is now the operational spider in the web for IS provinces – including those in Syria and Africa, as well as IS Khorasan in Afghanistan, according to terrorism researchers.
