BOSSASO (SD) -The Federal Government of Somalia has announced that a joint operation involving the national army and international partners targeted an Al-Shabaab assembly camp in the Almadow mountains of Puntland.

The operation, whose exact timing was not disclosed, reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 20 Al-Shabaab members, including three leaders, and left several others injured, according to a statement from Somalia’s Ministry of Information.

This marks the first time the Federal Government of Somalia has commented on an operation against Al-Shabaab and ISIS in Puntland, amid heightened tensions between the federal government and the Puntland state.

Puntland, which has been fighting Al-Shabaab and ISIS in the mountainous regions of Almadow and Almiskat for an extended period, has yet to officially comment on this operation.