Puntland security officials have accused the UAE of carrying out a January 2025 airstrike that killed four members of a family, including two children and a pregnant teenager, in Somalia’s Al-Miskaad mountains, according to a Drop Site investigation.
GAROWE, Somalia (Somali Report) — Puntland security officials have accused the United Arab Emirates of carrying out an airstrike that killed four members of the same family and wounded five others during military operations against Islamic State militants in northern Somalia in January 2025, according to an investigation published by Drop Site News.
The strike took place on January 26, 2025, in the Togga-Xarago area of the Al-Miskaad mountains in the northeastern Bari region, where members of the Reer Yuusuf Maxamuud Saalax family were staying at their traditional home, the report said.
The four people killed were identified as Ladan Cabdi Ismaaciil, 13-year-old Cabdisamad Yuusuf Maxamuud, seven-year-old Maxamed Cabdiqani Maxamed and 17-year-old Xaawo Axmed Saalax, who was four months pregnant, according to the investigation.
An eight-month-old infant held by Xaawo survived the attack, Khadra Cabdi Ismaaciil, a relative who lost four family members in the strike, told Drop Site.
Four Puntland security officials confirmed to the outlet that Emirati drones carried out the attack, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the allegations.
The family had reportedly been displaced from Dhadaar, another area in the Al-Miskaad mountains, weeks before the strike after government forces warned them that Islamic State fighters were present there and advised them to move to a designated safer location.
The airstrike also inflicted serious injuries and devastated the family's livelihood. Six camels and 400 goats, on which the family depended for its income and survival, were reportedly killed or lost in the attack.
Puntland security officials told Drop Site that the aircraft used in the operation had taken off from a military facility operated by the UAE at Bosaso airport, a strategic coastal hub in the semi-autonomous region.
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The officials said the UAE conducted airstrikes in the Al-Miskaad mountains in early 2025, with operations intensifying again towards the end of that year.
According to the report, Emirati airstrikes of this kind in Puntland had stopped by November 2025, as the United States assumed a leading role in operations against Islamic State militants in the area.
The Puntland officials also accused the UAE of failing in some instances to adequately verify its targets before carrying out strikes. These allegations could not be independently verified.
The UAE continues to provide security assistance to Puntland, particularly to the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), which conducts maritime security operations and efforts to combat piracy. The support includes training, salary payments and intelligence-sharing arrangements.
Drop Site said it had sought comment from the UAE embassy in Mogadishu and the country's foreign ministry but had received no response at the time of publication.
The allegations come amid a continuing campaign against Islamic State militants entrenched in the rugged Al-Miskaad mountains, where Puntland forces have conducted operations with support from foreign partners.
There is no comprehensive official accounting of civilian casualties from the fighting and airstrikes in the area. Access restrictions and the difficulty of reaching remote mountain communities have also made it challenging for journalists and human rights organisations to independently document the impact on civilians.
The reported strike highlights concerns about civilian protection and accountability during counterterrorism operations in a region where armed groups remain active and foreign security assistance plays a significant role.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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