U.S. sends dozens of troops to Somalia, 1st time in decades - AP

[TomSea]

U.S. sends dozens of troops to Somalia, 1st time in decades
By ABDI GULED and CARA ANNA, Associated Press

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The U.S. military is sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the Horn of Africa country in roughly two decades.

The United States pulled out of Somalia after 1993, when two helicopters were shot down in the capital, Mogadishu, and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets. Even now, Somalia's fragile central government is struggling to assert itself after the nationwide chaos that began with the fall of dictator Siad Barre in 1991.

The U.S. Africa Command on Friday said this deployment is for logistics training of Somalia's army, which is battling the extremist group al-Shabab that emerged from the country's years of warlord-led conflict. About 40 troops are taking part.

Continued: http://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/us-sends-dozens-of-troops-to-somalia-1st-time-in-decades/ar-BBzQJcP