A new painful blow incurred by the terrorist organization «ISIS) in Somalia, killing dozens of its members in clashes with the security forces in the state of Puntland.

Dozens of terrorists were killed in violent clashes in the Bontland region, according to what was announced today, Wednesday, the regional security forces, which also incurred losses.

Military officials told AFP that the Puntland forces had repelled a double attack on one of its bases by ISIS in the Arskad Mountains.

A military commander told AFP by phone, asking not to be identified, that the clashes began when a military base attacked, on Tuesday, with a car loaded with explosives, explaining that the operation was "thwarted" during "very violent battles".

He added that a number of militants wearing explosive jackets that blew themselves up and "caused losses in the army."

Another military official, Abdel -Qader Farah, told AFP on the phone that more than 20 Bontland's soldiers were killed.

«The enemy was defeated»

Military spokesman for the Buntland forces, Mohamed Fadigo, confirmed that the "enemy was defeated" by the regional forces, which were estimated to have killed up to 65 of the attackers.

He added during a press conference that after 24 hours of the clashes, "the army is still chasing the last defeated terrorists and the battles has not yet ended."

He pointed out that the regional forces killed other militants who were hiding in caves.

last December, the Buntland authorities, with American support, launched an attack against ISIS.

Experts say that the organization's presence is relatively limited in Somalia compared to the youth movement related to al -Qaeda, but its activity is increasing.

The leader of ISIS in Somalia was born, according to experts and authorities, in Bontland, named Abdel -Qader Moamen

ISIS in Somalia

According to Reuters, the consistency of the organization in Somalia is estimated at 700 to 1500 militants in the Buntland Mountains, a much smaller number of members of the youth movement linked to the terrorist al -Qaeda terrorist organization that controls large parts of the south and the center of the country.

But analysts say that the ISIS branch in Somalia has become of increasing importance in the global terrorist organization in the past few years.

Officials and analysts say that the organization received support from the flow of foreign elements from the Middle East and other African countries and revenues acquired from blackmailing local companies.

And last year, media outlets quoted US officials as saying that Abdelkader Moamen became a world leader of the organization, which was not confirmed or denied by the latter.