US warships arrive in Somalia to withdraw American forces

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (YPA) – The US “Pentagon” on Wednesday announced the deployment of a group of warships off the coast of Somalia, to support the withdrawal of about 700 US soldiers from the troubled African country.

The amphibious warship “USS McCain Island” and its accompanying ships arrived off the Horn of Africa, days after US President Donald Trump issued an order to withdraw forces in Somalia for years to carry out operations against the “Youth” movement.

The US Command in Africa (AFRICOM) said in a statement that the naval group would help transport US military and civilian personnel from Somalia to “other operations sites in East Africa while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces.”

On December 4, Trump ordered the withdrawal of the majority of US forces from Somalia by early 2021.

YPA