...a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland and the equally autonomous Somaliland seem to have avoided the clan rivalries and warlordism that have typified the rest of Somalia, which puts both places high on the list for Islamic subversion...
and the United States have confirmed a counterterrorism operation targeting an al-Shabaab
... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...weapons and ammunition storage facility in Markad, in the al-Madow-Golis mountain range of northern Somalia.
The operation, conducted in coordination with Puntland authorities, struck a site used by al-Shabaab to store weapons and ammunition intended to support the group’s activities and threaten communities in Puntland and elsewhere in Somalia.
Puntland authorities and the United States described the operation as part of an expanding campaign against al-Shabaab in northern Somalia, aimed at disrupting the group’s logistical infrastructure and reducing its ability to plan and carry out attacks.
They said targeting weapons storage facilities would increase pressure on al-Shabaab by disrupting its operational capabilities and limiting its access to supplies.
The Puntland government and the United States said they would continue efforts to degrade al-Shabaab’s capabilities, prevent the group from establishing safe havens and support long-term peace and stability in northern Somalia.
No details were immediately provided on casualties or the extent of damage caused by the operation.