Forces from Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region have captured swathes of territory from Islamic State during a weeks-long offensive they hope will draw increased international support, according to officials and Reuters reporters.

The Islamic State militant group launched an overnight assault on military bases in Somalia's northeastern Puntland state using suicide car and motorbike bombs. However, the attack was successfully repelled by government forces,

The Islamic State armed group attacked military bases in Somalia's northeastern Puntland state overnight with suicide car and motorbike bombs, a military official said on Tuesday. Puntland announced a major offensive against Islamic State and a rival Islamist group,