Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) has detained 82 individuals suspected of links to the Daesh group’s Somali branch, according to a report by the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting.
Authorities say the suspects are connected to the Daesh faction operating in Somalia’s Puntland region and had been trained to carry out attacks inside Ethiopia. Intelligence officials claim the group aimed to create covert cells throughout the country as part of a broader infiltration plan.
The arrests follow months of surveillance, during which NISS tracked the group’s movement across borders and monitored efforts to embed operatives within local communities.
The Daesh-Somalia faction, though smaller in size than the more established Al-Shabaab group, has reportedly grown to an estimated 700 to 1,500 fighters. The increase is attributed to foreign recruitment and illicit funding sources, which have strengthened its regional presence.
While Daesh maintains a lower profile compared to Al-Shabaab, the group has tried to expand its operations into neighboring countries. Ethiopia’s latest crackdown aims to disrupt these ambitions before sleeper cells become active threats.
In parallel developments, Puntland security forces have recently launched a major operation, reclaiming territory from ISIS fighters and disrupting their base of operations.
The U.S. military has also stepped up airstrikes against the group, continuing a policy shift that intensified after President Donald Trump’s return to office.