Pentagon seeks to expand fight against extremists in Somalia
In this Jan. 2, 2017, file photo, a Somali soldier patrols the area of a suicide car bomb attack in Mogadishu, Somalia. The Pentagon wants to expand the military’s ability to battle al-Qaida-linked militants in Somalia, potentially putting U.S. forces closer to the fight against a stubborn extremist group that has plotted attacks against America, senior U.S. officials said.
FARAH ABDI WARSAMEH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
By LOLITA C. BALDOR | Associated Press | Published: February 26, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon wants to expand the military's ability to battle al-Qaida-linked militants in Somalia, potentially putting U.S. forces closer to the fight against a stubborn extremist group that has plotted attacks against America, senior U.S. officials said.
The recommendations sent to the White House would allow U.S special operations forces to increase assistance to the Somali National Army in the struggle against al-Shabab militants in the fragile Horn of Africa nation, the officials said. They said the proposal would give the military greater flexibility to launch airstrikes against extremists that appear to be a threat.
https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/2.1198/pentagon-seeks-to-expand-fight-against-extremists-in-somalia-1.456032#.WLK6iX8ayj4
