US warship to help ongoing troop withdrawal from Somalia

A US warship and an aircraft have launched an operation to withdraw American forces out of Somalia, the Pentagon declared this week as it carries out a Defense Department order to transfer hundreds of troops to other locations.

The USS Hershel "Woody" Williams, an expeditionary sea base that normally carries a contingent of crisis-response Marines, along with an AC-130W Stinger II warplane are supporting the troop movement, the US military announced in a statement as cited in a Friday report by the Washington-based Stars & Stripes newspaper.

Citing security concerns, however, US Africa Command (AFRICOM), declined to elaborate on Friday about how many soldiers have so far been moved or when the withdrawal will be completed.

AFRICOM did state that roughly 700 troops will be repositioned to neighboring countries to conduct cross-border operations against the Somali-based al-Shabab militants.

While AFRICOM did not identify the countries, Djibouti and Kenya are likely destinations given that the US maintains military bases in both nations.

A limited troop presence will remain on the ground in Somalia while some forces also could be reassigned to other regions or to the United States, the command added. 

Joint Task Force – Quartz, which AFRICOM formed to oversee the mission, dubbed Operation Octave Quartz, said the AC-130W Stinger II is able to provide close air support and air interdiction.

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“Close air support missions include troops in contact, convoy escort and point air defense,” the task force declared in a statement.

The task force, led by Air Force Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, will reposition forces “in a deliberate, conditions-based manner,” AFRICOM further noted in the statement.

The USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, which is assigned to AFRICOM and is based out of Souda Bay in Crete, is a relatively new asset in Europe, according to the report.

The Pentagon announced in October that the vessel would support AFRICOM missions, as well as those in Europe as needed.

The 784-foot-long ship features a four-spot flight deck that helicopters can use. There is also living space for a crew complement of about 250.

The development came after a Defense Department Inspector General released a report last month saying that AFRICOM has seen “a definitive shift” in recent months of al-Shabab's focus to attack US interests in the region.

AFRICOM had previously stated that it believes al-Shabab is the most “dangerous, capable, and imminent threat” on the continent, the report noted.

The militant group has operated for more than a decade and aims to topple the US-sponsored government in the country. American forces also conduct frequent airstrikes against militant targets, which are expected to continue even as US troops withdraw.

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