heavy casualties, the fact that the small local ISIL branch had captured a major town and held it for over a month "could be viewed as an important symbolic victory for the group". Notes References Bibliography 2016 in Somalia Bari, Somalia Battles in 2016 Battles of the Somali Civil War (2009–present) December 2016 events in Africa Military operations involving the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant November 2016 events in Africa October 2016 events in Africa