GAROWE – American forces are confirmed to have conducted their first ground operation in the Baalade mountains of Puntland, targeting ISIS militants, according to a report by Fox News.

The operation, which took place on Tuesday, commenced with an MQ-9 Reaper drone striking caves where ISIS members were hiding. This was followed by approximately 10 combat helicopters that directly engaged ISIS fighters in a sustained assault.

Fox News reported that the operation resulted in the deaths of senior ISIS members, with additional militants captured.

The United States, currently assessed to have over 100 special operations personnel in Puntland, is expected to soon deploy more than a thousand additional special forces soldiers to the Almiskad mountain range. This significant troop movement underscores the strategic importance the U.S. places on the mountainous region.

This operation marks a notable escalation in direct U.S. military involvement in the region, highlighting the international dimension of the ongoing campaign against ISIS affiliates in Somalia and the strategic value placed on stabilizing the Puntland area.