The presence of Islamic State militants in northern Somalia is growing, according to a United Nations report. The assessment states that the number of Islamic State militants in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northern Somalia, has grown from a few dozen to some 200. Although the numbers have been disputed, the report also mentioned a growing unease among officials that the region could become an attractive destination for Islamic State fighters fleeing Iraq and Syria, especially as international efforts to destroy the group continue to make gains.

Despite uncertainty over the future of the militant group once it is expunged from its toehold, fears that the Islamic State could make headway in Somalia have grown in recent years. The United States conducted its first airstrikes in Somalia against affiliated militants on Nov. 2, underscoring the U.S. military's assessment that the group poses a veritable threat. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the Islamic State has conducted few attacks in and around Puntland — including in the port town of Bosaso — and appears limited in its capabilities, at least for now. The Islamic State is constrained mainly by the harsh, mountainous terrain, which limits its ability to attract foreign militants to relocate there. For this reason, Al Shabaab is still the bigger threat to the Somali government in Mogadishu and will remain so for the foreseeable future.