In a coordinated counter‑terrorism operation, U.S. military forces working with Puntland regional security units have captured a top ISIS‑Somalia commander, striking a major blow to the militant group’s financial and logistical networks.
The detained individual has been identified as Abdiweli Mohamed Aw Yusuf, also known by his alias Abdiweli Walalac, who served as ISIS‑Somalia’s head of finance and foreign relations.
He was apprehended alongside two associates during the operation in the rugged mountainous terrain of Puntland’s Bari region.
Yusuf, designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. Treasury Department in July 2023, managed the delivery of foreign fighters, weaponry, ammunition, and substantial revenue for the group’s operations both within Somalia and across several African affiliates.
Under his leadership, ISIS‑Somalia extorted local businesses and used mobile money and informal hawala networks to generate nearly $2 million in 2022 alone.
The operation is part of Operation Hilaac, Puntland’s ongoing campaign launched in December 2024 to eliminate ISIS and al‑Shabab strongholds in the Cal Miskaad and Golis mountains.
The U.S. has provided logistical support and intelligence assistance, including conducting targeted airstrikes against ISIS‑Somalia figures earlier in 2025.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the operation in a brief statement; Puntland Defense Forces (PDF) later provided identifying details.
This marks the first such ground raid in northern Somalia under the administration of President Donald Trump, although at least 32 U.S. airstrikes and numerous strikes by the UAE have supported the anti-ISIS campaign so far this year.
Security analysts say Yusuf’s detention may significantly disrupt financial coordination and international recruitment pipelines for ISIS in East Africa.
His arrest is described as likely having ripple effects for coordination centers like the Al‑Karrar regional office, which has supported ISIS affiliates in the Congo, Mozambique, Kenya, and beyond.
For Puntland, the operation underlines the success of its multi-phase offensive, which by mid‑June 2025 had cleared nearly 98% of the Cal Miskaad mountain range of ISIS presence.
Authorities expressed hope that the arrest would yield valuable intelligence to dismantle remaining cells.
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni hailed the operation as a demonstration of both regional determination and the benefits of international cooperation.
U.S. officials emphasized the continued priority of disrupting terrorist networks while safeguarding civilian lives in line with broader counter‑terrorism goals in the Horn of Africa.
This operation marks a significant turning point in efforts to dismantle the Islamic State’s footprint in East Africa. By targeting a figure central to the group’s monetary infrastructure, the coalition has struck at ISIS‑Somalia’s very lifeline.
Analysts say the investigation that follows may yield further opportunities to identify and dismantle remaining leadership and support structures.
