The Puntland State of Somalia has condemned a reported airstrike on the residence of Somali security commander General Mahad Abdirahman, popularly known as Taliye Shub, in Doolow District.
In a statement issued by Puntland Deputy Minister of Information Bile Qabobsade, the administration said the alleged strike raises serious questions about Somalia’s sovereignty, accountability and the involvement of foreign military forces in the country.
According to an account cited by Puntland, the incident occurred at about 11:45 p.m. and allegedly involved a Turkish-operated Bayraktar TB2 drone.
The drone is alleged to have struck General Mahad’s residence with a missile before flying towards Mogadishu, reportedly passing over Luuq District.
Puntland said the reported strike caused substantial damage to the residence and left General Mahad with minor injuries.
The administration stressed that the allegations had not been independently verified but argued that they warranted immediate investigation.
“If confirmed,” Puntland said, the incident would represent a serious challenge to Somalia’s sovereignty and constitutional order, particularly if foreign military capabilities were used in connection with internal political or security disputes.
Puntland questioned who authorised the alleged operation, who approved the use of the drone, what intelligence was used to identify the residence as a military target and which authority, if any, requested or facilitated the operation.
The administration also raised questions over whether Somalia’s Federal Government was involved in authorising, directing or facilitating the reported strike.
A key issue raised by Puntland is whether the alleged attack was connected to fighting reported in Baidoa earlier in the day.
Puntland warned that if evidence establishes that the strike was carried out as retaliation for, or in connection with, the fighting in Baidoa, it could raise serious concerns over the use of foreign military power in Somalia’s internal political and security disputes.
The administration also addressed Türkiye’s military partnership with Somalia, describing Türkiye as an important partner while insisting that security cooperation must operate within the principles of transparency, lawful authorisation, accountability and international law.
“Partnership cannot mean a blank cheque,” Puntland said.
Puntland called for an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into the reported Doolow incident.
It wants the Somali Federal Government to clarify whether it authorised, requested, facilitated or was informed about the alleged operation.
It also called for clarification on whether Turkish-operated armed drones conducted an operation in Doolow at the reported time, the objective of any such operation, the authority that designated the alleged target and the legal basis for the action.
Puntland further urged Turkish authorities to provide a clear and verifiable account of any drone operations conducted in or around Doolow at the relevant time.
The administration called on the United Nations, African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to closely monitor the allegations and support an independent fact-finding process if credible evidence emerges.
It proposed examining satellite imagery, flight and operational records, radar or air-traffic data, eyewitness accounts, photographs and videos, weapons remnants, blast patterns, forensic evidence and communications or command records where lawfully obtainable.
Puntland said the objective should be to establish what happened, protect civilians, determine responsibility and prevent similar incidents from occurring.
The administration maintained that Somalia cannot build a functioning federal state if foreign military power is allowed to operate without transparency, effective oversight and lawful authorisation.
It also warned against the use of armed drones as instruments of internal political conflict.
Puntland said it was not calling for confrontation or escalation but for “truth, accountability and respect for Somali sovereignty.”
The administration concluded by stressing that the allegations remain unverified until an independent investigation establishes the facts, but said their seriousness warranted immediate attention.
The statement was signed by Bile Qabobsade, Deputy Minister of Information of the Puntland State of Somalia.
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