U.S. Sending Troops to Somalia to Help Fight Al Shabaab

The United States military on Friday announced it is sending dozens of soldiers to Somalia to help defeat Al Shabaab.

The US African Command said about 40 soldiers will be deployed to train and equip about 22,000 Somalia and AMISOM forces currently fighting Al Shabaab.

"United States Africa Command will conduct various security cooperation and/or security force assistance events in Somalia in order to assist our allies and partners," said Pat Barnes, U.S. Africa Command spokesman in an interview with Voice of America.

The move comes a few weeks after S President Donald Trump approved a more aggressive military operation style in Somalia that allows the chief of the US Africa Command to authorize more military strikes against the terrorist group.

This is the first time since 1993 that the US is sending troops on the ground in Somalia. In 1993, the US withdrew its military personnel in the country after two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down by rebels and 18 soldiers killed. The military personnel were in the country in an operation meant to capture warlord Mohammed Farah Aideed and his allies.