The Emirates has killed Somali civilians from one family in an airstrike

Boosaaso (Caasimada Online) – An airstrike carried out by an unmanned aircraft owned by the United Arab Emirates killed four members of a Somali family, including three children, while military operations against the Daesh group fighting in the mountains of the Bari region of Puntland were ongoing, according to a new report released on Friday.

The airstrike, which occurred on January 26, 2025, near Togga-Xarago in the Cal Miskaad mountains, also injured five other people and destroyed hundreds of livestock belonging to the family, as reported by the media Drop Site News , after interviewing survivors of the attack and four officials from Puntland's security agencies.

The four officials, who requested that their names not be disclosed due to the sensitivity of military operations, stated that the airstrike was carried out by aircraft operated by Emirati forces, which took off from a military base located at the Boosaaso airport.

Khadra Cabdi Ismaaciil, 38 years old, told Drop Site that her family was preparing for dinner when she stepped out of their house to visit a neighbor. Shortly after, she heard the sound of an approaching aircraft, followed by a powerful explosion that hit the family home.

The attack killed her older sister, Laadan Cabdi Ismaaciil, and a 13-year-old son she had, Cabdisamad Yuusuf Maxamuud. Also killed were Maxamed Cabdiqani Maxamed, who was seven years old, and Xawo Axmed Saalax, who was 17 years old and four months pregnant.

Xawo was holding her eight-month-old child when the airstrike occurred, but the child survived the attack.

“The child survived, but she did not,” Khadra told Drop Site.

According to media reports, the UAE embassy in Mogadishu and the foreign ministry of that country did not respond to requests for comments regarding the airstrike and military operations conducted by the UAE in Puntland.

So far, there has been no independent confirmation of all the circumstances surrounding the attack, and there are no complete official statistics showing the civilian casualties resulting from the ongoing conflict against ISIS in the mountains of the Bari region.

A family displaced from their home for security reasons

The affected family initially lived in the Dhadaar area of the Cal Miskaad mountains, where their relatives reported that their community had been settled for many centuries.

In December 2024, security forces warned the local people about the presence of ISIS fighters, ordering several families to relocate to other areas that were said to be safer than where they were, according to the investigation.

Ahmed Abdi Ismail, who is a sibling of Khadra, stated that their family followed those orders after being assured that the new area was safer from the ongoing battles.

However, the place they moved to later became the site of an airstrike.

“They were told to relocate, and that the new area was safer from the war, but still it was bombed,” Ahmed told Drop Site .

After the airstrike, the survivors transported the injured on camels owned by neighboring families, taking them to the area of Balidhidin. Those who needed further medical care were later taken to the city of Bosaso.

Khadra stated that Habibo Yusuf Mahmud, who was among the injured, is still suffering from severe injuries, including a hand that does not move well and a wound remaining on her neck.

Apart from the loss of life, the family lost six camels and nearly 400 sheep, which were their main source of livelihood.

Although more than a year and a half has passed since the attack, the surviving family members have not yet returned to the area they fled from, as they have lost the livestock they depended on for survival.

The ongoing battles in the Bari region have also displaced tens of thousands of people, according to the International Red Cross , which warned in January that prolonged conflicts and severe droughts have greatly affected the lives of rural communities.

The Role of the Emirates in the War Against ISIS

Puntland has launched a large-scale military operation against Daesh at the end of 2024, after the group established bases in the mountains east of the city of Bosaso.

The operation, named Hillaac, has received air support from the United States and the United Arab Emirates, which have targeted the group's positions with airstrikes, while Puntland forces have been engaged in ground battles.

Puntland forces captured key bases held by Daesh in the mountains in 2025; however, the group's fighters continued to carry out activities in the mountainous terrain that is difficult to access.

A report released this year by the European Union Agency for Asylum confirmed that the United States and the UAE conducted airstrikes in the area, also stating that Daesh has returned to some areas that were previously cleared.

In May, Somalia Today reported that the new activities of Daesh have forced Puntland forces to reinforce their operations, after a slowdown in the fight against the group.

However, four Puntland officers who spoke to Drop Site criticized some of the UAE's airstrikes, describing them as causing significant losses and carried out without caution.

Officials have accused the Emirati forces of not adequately distinguishing between civilians and Daesh fighters when targeting locations suspected of harboring the group.

One of the officials stated that U.S. forces generally conduct surveillance and aerial reconnaissance for an extended period before striking a target, while he accused the Emirati forces of showing less caution.

“It seems they are training on targets,” said another officer.

According to Puntland officials speaking to Drop Site, the Emiratis halted drone strikes in November 2025, and since then, the U.S. has taken the lead in aerial operations against Daesh.

The U.S. Africa Command, AFRICOM, confirmed that it conducted strikes this year in 2026 in areas where Daesh operates around Bosaso, stating that these operations were conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia.

On the other hand, the U.S. aims to expand its military presence at Bosaso Airport. An investigation presented in September, reported by Somalia Today , detailed plans to build facilities supporting U.S. airstrikes and CIA operations.

The Tension between Somalia and the Emirates

New accusations have emerged as a dispute over the military presence and political influence of the UAE in Somalia continues.

In January of this year, the federal government of Somalia annulled its agreements with the UAE related to security, defense, and the management of strategic ports, accusing Abu Dhabi of violating the sovereignty and unity of the country.

The Puntland administration rejected that decision , arguing that the federal government cannot unilaterally annul agreements concerning Puntland without consulting the administration.

Despite the escalating diplomatic dispute, and reports that the UAE has halted its airstrikes in Puntland, Abu Dhabi has continued to support the security forces of that administration, particularly the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), as stated by the Drop Site investigation.

This support includes military training, salaries, and intelligence cooperation, indicating that the UAE still plays a role in security operations in Puntland.

The investigation also noted that the President of Puntland, Saciid Cabdullaahi Deni, was in Abu Dhabi on October 9, citing security officials aware of his travel.

The officials did not disclose the purpose of the Puntland president's visit.