Puntland counterterrorism operation against ISIS and Al-Shabab

IS-Sumal is useless to DAESH now as a financial/logistics base so out of spite they will cause as much much mischief as possible before they’re wiped out.
 

An alleged internal document from IS has been circulating in pro AQ social media channels. The apparent author is Abdul Qadir Mumin. The subject is the policy on defectors and what should be done w them. Interestingly, he states that each case should be adjudicated individually.

This would suggest that IS-Sumal can't afford to blanket execute defectors, indicating that they've suffered issues w recruitment. However, the document's authenticity is unconfirmed
 
There is also a claim that top IS spokesman Abu Hudhayfah al Ansari has been killed in Puntland according to these leaks, but that is still unverified.


Abu Hudhayfah al Ansari was an Arabian, likely Gulf. Before settling in Puntland, he was reportedly working for IS in Yemen. He was one among the 10-20 operatives who comprised the entirety of IS-Yemen (IS-Y) the function of which is/was strictly media and logistics.

ISY's key role in global IS media has been previously reported by Al Aan TV correspondent Muhammad bin Faisal. Recently, ISY suffered a major cell bust and several air strikes. ISY and IS Sumal together formed the bulk of IS Al Karrar Office

The recent losses in Yemen reportedly drove surviving operatives to escape to Puntland. One of them was allegedly Ansari. If this narrative is correct, then his time in Syria would have been well before Yemen. The decision to flee to Africa would likely have been in Yemen

However Ansari's speech early last yr provides some evidence to the idea that he and other leaders may have intended to go to Africa all along. He acknowledged that IS was degraded in its "historical abode" (Iraq + Syria), but highly praised the African branches, urging migration

Ansari was reportedly identified by IS defectors who had joined AQ - likely AQAP. They recognized his voice and accent in his speeches for Al Furqan Media. More broadly, ISY has been unable to break AQAP's monopolization of jihadism in Yemen. IS loyalists thus fled to Puntland
 
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