US Pentagon Chief Makes Rare Visit to Somalia

World

November 28th, 12:42pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

US Army Spc. Kevin Martin, junior sniper, assigned to the 1-186th Infantry Battalion, Task Force Guardian, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, provides security for a 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (EAS) C-130J Super Hercules during unloading operations at an unidentified location in Somalia Sunday, June 28, 2020. AP

The Pentagon's acting defense secretary has made a rare visit to Somalia, where US forces have been assisting in the fight against Qaeda affiliate al-Shabab. In a brief statement, the Pentagon said Christopher Miller, who was installed as acting defense secretary Nov. 9 when President Donald Trump fired Mark Esper, met Friday with US troops in Mogadishu to express appreciation for their work and to reiterate the US commitment to combating extremist groups. Just hours after Miller's visit, the Somali government announced that a suicide bombing in Mogadishu killed at least seven people, and al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility. Trump is expected to order a withdrawal of most or all of the 700 US troops based in Somalia before he leaves office Jan. 20, according to The Associated Press. Miller has been in the Middle East and parts of north Africa this week on his first international trip as acting defense secretary. Miller, who previously headed the National Counterterrorism Center, has not been nominated by Trump for Senate confirmation as Pentagon chief.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2652221/us-pentagon-chief-makes-rare-visit-somalia