Somaliland troops invaded and occupied the Port town of Las Qoray, citing a mission to rescue German citizens allegedly held hostage by pirates in the area.

[2] The presence of hostages in the disputed region heightened tensions between Somaliland and Puntland, both of which sought to assert control over the area.

On 9 July 2008, Somaliland forces entered Laas Qoray, claiming their objective was to rescue the German hostages from pirate captivity.

Puntland authorities viewed the incursion as a violation of their territorial integrity, exacerbating existing tensions between the two regions.The German hostages were eventually released without a reported ransom.

[3] The incident at Laas Qoray contributed to the ongoing territorial disputes and occasional clashes between Somaliland and Puntland over the Sanaag region.