The US military has deployed an impressive naval force off the coast of Somalia to protect the withdrawal of some 700 troops from the country in the Horn of Africa ravaged by jihadist attacks.
The USS helicopter carrier Makin Island, with on board an expeditionary force of some 5,000 soldiers from the Marine Corps, arrived Monday, December 21 off Somalia, announced Tuesday the US Military Command for Africa (Africom). Escorted by two amphibious ships, the USS San Diego and the USS Somerset, he joined the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, a landing and transport ship usually based in the Mediterranean and which arrived in the area a few days ago, says Africom.
The arrival of these naval forces “And their significant combat capabilities show our determination to […] protect our troops during this transition ”, underlined General Dagvin Anderson, responsible for overseeing the withdrawal from Somalia. In addition to amphibious ships, capable of disembarking and entering Somali territory in pursuit of possible attackers, the Marines are equipped with attack planes and helicopters, drones and tactical missiles.
“They better not provoke us”
Some 700 special forces soldiers train and advise the Somali army; and the US military regularly conducts airstrikes against the Chabab, without appearing to affect the ability of this al-Qaeda-affiliated group to destabilize the country. Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of the ” majority “ of these elite soldiers “By early 2021”, that is to say just before his own departure from power, after having already accelerated the disengagement of Afghanistan and Iraq to keep his promise to “Put an end to endless wars”. Most of the displaced soldiers will be repositioned in neighboring countries, such as Kenya or Djibouti.
On Saturday, the commander of Africom, General Stephen Townsend, warned the Chababs not to attack the American forces during their withdrawal, an operation during which they will be more vulnerable than usual. “We will execute this mission quickly, methodically and with additional forces to protect our partners and our forces., he said. The enemy should expect continued pressure and swift retaliation if they choose to attack. “
General Towsend also promised to continue the fight against the Somali jihadists. “Let’s be clear: the United States is not withdrawing or disengaging from East Africa, he assured. We remain able to strike the Chababs where and when we want. They better not provoke us. “
