An Islamic State faction in semi-autonomous Puntland continues to dwindle in numbers after losing many of its fighters to Puntland State Forces.
According to an interview reference from Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, group that had about 300 fighters does not pose serious threat after its militants were driven out of port town last year.
The Islamist militants were scattered in the mountains after being kick out of the Qandala port town by security forces in December 2016.
The group lost over 100 fighters in one raid by Puntland forces supported by AMISOM and SNA troops. The militant group that had about 300 militants now its number vary from 100 to 200 fighters.
On December 7 last year, the joint allied forces recaptured Qandala coastal town from ISIS militants, who had seized in late October.
The one year old ISIS of Puntland was initially a group of Al-Shabaab defectors led by Abdikadir Mumin. In September last year, Mumin was designated as global terrorist by the U.S.
