Tuesday September 23, 2025
Garowe (HOL) — Brig. Gen. Ahmed Abdi Ali Qarjab, widely
known as Gen. Qalyare, was killed Tuesday when a landmine exploded in the Bari
region of Puntland during ongoing operations against Islamic State militants,
security sources said.
The blast struck in the Dhasaan area, also wounding and
killing some of the troops traveling with the commander, according to officials
familiar with the operation.
Puntland authorities have not yet issued a formal statement
on his death.
Gen. Qalyare had been a prominent figure in Puntland’s fight
against ISIS, a campaign centered in the rugged Calmiskaat Mountains that has
stretched on for nearly a year. He was previously injured in clashes in
Calmiskaat but had returned to the front lines after receiving medical care
abroad.
His killing highlights the shifting tactics of the militant
group, which has turned to improvised explosive devices and roadside bombs
after suffering losses in direct combat. Fighters are believed to be regrouping
in the Baallade stream area, where they remain under pressure but continue to
target Puntland forces with mines and ambushes.
The death of Gen. Qalyare comes amid mounting losses among
Puntland’s senior officers leading the offensive, underscoring the high costs
of the protracted battle against ISIS in northeastern Somalia.