According to an article by the American newspaper Star Tribune on November 3rd, the U.S. military has retreated from a strategic military base in southern Somalia. This base has been the center of U.S. counter-terrorism operations in the region for many years.
Reports quoted by Somali media said that all U.S. military personnel have recently withdrawn from Baledolgale Airfield in Somalia. This airfield is located about 96 kilometers northwest of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, and is a key U.S. stronghold in Somalia.
As part of the long-term combat against Somali extremist group Al-Shabaab, Baleda Gule military airport serves as a intelligence collection base for the US military, and also provides facilities for training Somali forces by the United States.
At present, it is unclear how many U.S. military personnel have evacuated from that airport, nor is it known where they may have been transferred to. The U.S. African Command has not responded to this information yet.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Africa Command said, “To maintain operational security, we will not discuss details of ongoing operations.” The spokesperson added that the command is "adjusting troop deployments to optimize ongoing counterterrorism operations."
The Star and Stripes reported that this seems to indicate a significant shift in the US military’s strategy. Just a year ago, the United States increased investment in the infrastructure of Balleydoglie airport, establishing new medical facilities and improving living conditions to support the long-term deployment of US troops.
American troops stationed at Baleda Glei Military Airport were attacked. In 2019, a car bomb exploded near the airport, and subsequently American troops and Somali forces engaged in a one-hour battle with militants. This was the largest attack against American troops in Somalia since the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.
In recent years, the U.S. military actions in Somalia have been inconsistent. In 2020, before the end of President Trump's first term in office, he ordered the withdrawal of about 700 U.S. military personnel from Somalia. In May 2022, President Biden overturned Trump's decision and ordered hundreds of U.S. military personnel to return to Somalia to establish a continuous military presence.
