MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Islamic State group’s growing presence in Somalia could become a “significant threat” if it attracts fighters fleeing collapsing strongholds in Syria and Iraq, experts say, and already it seems to be influencing local al-Shabab extremists to adopt tactics like beheadings. The U.S. military on Sunday told The Associated Press it had carried out 26 airstrikes this year against al-Shabab and now the Islamic State group. Two years ago, some of its fighters began to split away to join the Islamic State group. The U.N. experts documented at least one shipment of small arms, including machine-guns, delivered to the Islamic State fighters from Yemen. Officials also believe that the Islamic State group has difficulty finding the money to expand.

Source: National Post November 13, 2017 10:30 UTC