Las Anod (Laascaanood) is the capital of the Sool region. It lies in the Nugaal valley, ringed by hills, at about 690 metres above sea level, and is an important market where livestock and goods arriving via the ports of Berbera and Bosaso change hands.

Since 2023 the city has been administered by SSC-Khaatumo, which the Federal Government recognised in 2025 and which was reconstituted that year as the North Eastern State (Waqooyi Bari), with Las Anod as its capital. Somaliland continues to claim the area, and Puntland has also claimed it in the past.

The Sool region played a major part in the Dervish struggle of the early 20th century; the forts of Taleh, in the same region, served as the Dervish capital. Under the British protectorate Las Anod was the seat of the Nogal District.

In recent decades the city has changed hands several times, notably in 2007 and 2023.

Las Anod is the birthplace of Abdi Bile, the 1987 world 1500-metre champion. Nugaal University, founded in 2004, and other universities give the city a sizeable student community.

The economy rests on the livestock trade and on general goods such as rice, sugar, flour and building materials, most of which arrive via the ports of Berbera and Bosaso.