American Drone Takes a Nosedive in Somali Turf
MOGADISHU, Somalia – Earlier this week, a U.S. military drone crashed in southern Somalia, as confirmed by the U.S. Africa Command. This disclosure ended swirling rumors about the machine’s ownership, pivotal in battling the Al-Shabaab insurgency.
Initial chatter in the area sparked curiosity, with speculation floating around a possible Turkish drone crash in the Al-Shabaab-occupied town of Farsoley, in Lower Shabelle. This town sits about 130 km southwest of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
The fog surrounding whether the same drone is involved continues, with AFRICOM stating on Friday that they’re digging in to determine if Al-Shabaab had a hand in the crash. These militants dominate vast rural landscapes in central and southern Somalia.
“On November 5, at approximately 12:40 PM local time, a U.S. Army MQ-1C went down in southern Somalia,” noted AFRICOM’s report, skirting around the precise crash site.
“The investigation progresses, yet initial findings suggest no hostile attempt to down the drone,” the statement conveyed, hinting more details are on the horizon.
Thus far, evidence shows Al-Shabaab lacks the know-how to shoot down aircraft, despite aggressively challenging Somalia’s UN-backed but fragile federal government. Still, they’ve forfeited several key towns in the tussle.
In a collaborative offensive endeavor, the Somali National Army, alongside the U.S. Africa Command, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), local forces, and militia, has successfully blocked the group from crucial areas and supply lines.
The U.S. Africa Command, beyond offering eyes in the sky for combat teams, also plays a role in training and arming the Somali National Army. At present, nearly 700 U.S. Africa Command troops are stationed in Somalia, a majority returning in 2022 after a fleeting pullback.
In a move during his presidency, Donald Trump authorized the repositioning of these troops, just before conceding the 2020 election. However, Joe Biden reversed that decision. With Trump potentially returning to power, if he champions pulling troops from foreign soil to cut costs remains in the cards.
Source: AXADLETM
