US sends handful of military advisers to Somalia
Fewer than five US troops will advise African and Somali forces as they try to take control from Al Qaeda and Al Shabab-affiliated militants.
Fewer than five US troops will advise African and Somali forces as they try to take control from Al Qaeda and Al Shabab-affiliated militants.
The U.S. military has established a unit of fewer than five troops in聽Mogadishu聽to advise African and Somali forces as they try to take control of聽Somalia聽from the Al Qaeda-affiliated Al Shabab militant group, a spokesman said on Friday.
Army Colonel聽Tom Davis, a spokesman for聽U.S. Africa Command, said U.S. forces began establishing the聽Mogadishu聽Coordinating Cell in October and it became fully operational in late December.
The unit's establishment marks the first time U.S. troops have been deployed to聽Somalia聽since 1994, when the last American forces withdrew from the country several months after the so-called "Black Hawk Down" incident in which Somali militants shot down two helicopters and killed 18 U.S. troops.
"The U.S. has established a military coordination cell in聽Somalia聽to provide planning and advisory support to the African Union Mission in聽Somalia聽(AMISOM) and Somali security forces to increase their capabilities and promote peace and security throughout聽Somalia聽and the region," Davis said in a statement.
A U.S. military official said the size of the coordinating cell was fewer than five U.S. military personnel.