70 Islamic State militants were killed in airstrikes by the United Arab Emirates in Somalia.
The strikes were carried out in the northeastern Somali state of Puntland overnight, Reuters reports.
"Puntland's anti-terrorist forces had information and thus thwarted the attack, eliminating the suicide bombers who were on foot, on motorcycles and in cars," Puntland military spokesman Mohamud Fadhigo told Reuters.
"With the help of UAE airstrikes, we also defeated the Islamic State infantry. About 70 militants were killed," Fadhigo said. He added that Puntland forces also suffered losses during the night attack, but did not give an exact number.
Authorities in Puntland announced a major offensive against the Islamic State and the rival Islamist group Al-Shabaab, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, in December, and claim to have since killed dozens of foreign fighters, captured several IS bases and forced a senior commander to surrender.
The United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries have been supporting the training of the Somali armed forces in recent years.
The Islamic State faction in Somalia has become an increasingly significant part of the organization's global network in recent years and was the target of US airstrikes earlier this month.
The Somali state news agency reported on Tuesday that security forces repelled attacks on military positions in the Hagaaro and Togo-Dzetsel areas in the Cal Miskaad mountains of Puntland.
The Islamic State in Somalia is estimated to have between 700 and 1.500 fighters, and has grown in strength in recent years thanks to an influx of foreign fighters and growing revenues. However, it remains significantly smaller than al-Shabaab, which controls large parts of southern and central Somalia.
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