US troops leave key outpost in Somalia, report says

American troops have reportedly left a key counterterrorism hub in Somalia, signaling a major shift in U.S. operations against al-Shabab militants. Somali soldiers ride in pickup trucks during a field tactics demonstration at Baledogle Military Airfield in Somalia on Aug. 3, 2023. U.S. troops have withdrawn from the strategic airfield, according to a Somali news outlet. (Enrique Barcelo/U.S. Air Force) U.S. forces have withdrawn from a strategic military outpost in southern Somalia that has served for years as a hub for American counterterrorism operations, according to a local news outlet. All American troops recently left Baledogle Military Airfield, the Horn Observer reported last week. About 60 miles northwest of Mogadishu, the airfield has long been an important outpost for U.S.

forces in Somalia. Baledogle has served as a base for intelligence gathering and supported U.S. efforts to train Somali forces as part of the long-running fight against al-Shabab militants seeking to overthrow the country’s government. U.S. Africa Command did not directly address questions Monday about the reported withdrawal. “In the interest of maintaining operational security, we do not discuss details of ongoing operations,” an AFRICOM spokesman said, adding that the command “repositions its forces to optimize for ongoing counterterror operations.” It was unclear how many American troops were involved in the reported departure or where they might have relocated. Any