The Documentary Podcast The woman fighting IS in Somalia
Apr 4, 2026
Michael Shuval, BBC Arabic reporter on Iranian-Jewish life in Israel. Sahnun Ahmed, BBC Somali reporter embedded with Puntland Defence Force and frontline operations. They discuss IS tactics and local resistance in Puntland. They profile a female fighter driven to protect her children. They explore Iranian-Jewish cultural ties and the community's dilemma amid tensions with Iran.
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IS Uses Terrain And Extortion To Sustain Operations
- IS operations in Puntland are run from caves and rugged mountains, making them locally entrenched and hard to dislodge.
- Sahnun Ahmed reports IS collects extortion and carried out assassinations and bomb attacks, raising fear and funding roughly $2m from businesses according to the US Treasury.
Mother Soldier Calls Kids From Front Line
- Muna Ali Dahir, a mother of eight, joined the Puntland Defence Force to keep her children away from IS influence.
- Sahnun describes her calling her children from the front line and a child telling her, Mom, you will win in this battle.
Foreign Fighters Shape Local Perception Of IS
- Most IS fighters in Puntland are reported to be foreign, creating a local perception of invasion rather than homegrown insurgency.
- Sahnun notes the army senses foreign fighters dominate IS ranks, which shapes local resistance and narratives.