On to Somalia now, where the president says increased military operations in the southern part of the country have forced extremists to move into Puntland -- a relatively stable region in the north-east. President Mohamed Farmajo is currently touring the region, encouraging the military to crack down on Al-Shabaab and other terror groups. CGTN's Abdulaziz Billow is travelling with the presidential delegation and sent us this report from Bosaso in Puntland.

It's losing in Syria and Iraq - but ISIL has set its eyes on Somalia. Its fighters are estimated to be less than 200 fighters - headed by this man. The group is hiding in Puntland a relatively stable region in northeastern Somalia. It made headlines in May 2017 after it carried out its first suicide attack at this busy junction in the port city of Bosaso. Al-Shabaab is also active in this region - and is using these rugged mountains as a cover to attack regional forces. In June 2017 - it overran a military base in a daring morning raid killing scores of Puntland soldiers near the Galgala Mountains. Somalia's President says that militants want to turn Puntland into a new battleground.

MOHAMED ABDULLAHI FARMAJO SOMALI PRESIDENT "We are in the frontlines - we will fight every terrorist group and the enemy of the Somali people wherever they are - be it in Puntland or in Southern Somalia - It's therefore our responsibility to make sure we strengthen our security."

Hussein Arab Isse is a former defence minister - and the current chair of the parliamentary committee on defence - he tells me that ISIL's is growing threat in the region is a worrying development for East Africa.

HUSSEIN ARAB ISSE, HEAD PARLIAMENTARY DEFENCE COMMITTEE, SOMALIA "Right now they don't have the numbers however if we have learnt anything from the past - the fact that they don't have members doesn't mean that they won't grow in the future - We should have a plan to eradicate them now so that we won't have a problem with them in the future - which is what happened with Al-Shabaab".

ABDULAZIZ BILLOW BOSASO, PUNTLAND, SOMALIA "African Union says that up to 6,000 Africans who fought for ISIL in Iraq and Syria could return home posing a serious threat to the continents national security and stability - meanwhile - Somalia's president is in Bosaso - where ISIL has targeted recently seeking public support for his government in the fight against terrorist groups."

U.S military has targeted ISIL in Puntland - killing scores in the latest aerial strikes, meanwhile authorities have welcomed the strikes despite reports of civilians deaths.

HUSSEIN ARAB ISSE, HEAD PARLIAMENTARY DEFENCE COMMITTEE, SOMALIA "The drone strikes are creating a real problem for these guys to make a move on the ground themselves - for Al-Shabaab and other groups because they are now hiding in certain areas fearing the drone strikes - I think it's having a really devastating effect on their ability to counter attack and creating real problems for the Somali people."

Elsewhere, Puntland's regional forces are not taking any chances - the military is fighting on two different fronts - as hundreds of fighters continue to move to this area fleeing increased military activities in south and central Somalia. AB, CGTN, Bosaso, Puntland, Somalia.