Trump orders Pentagon to pull nearly all troops from Somalia

President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to withdraw nearly all of the 700 U.S. troops stationed in Somalia by early next year, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced Friday. 

Trump “has ordered the Department of Defense and the United States Africa Command to reposition the majority of personnel and assets out of Somalia by early 2021,” the Pentagon said in a statement. 

Approximately 700 troops are deployed in Somalia where for more than a decade the United States has helped quell local al Qaeda affiliate al-Shabab, and more recently the local ISIS organization. U.S. forces train and assist local security forces to fight the militant groups and also carry out airstrikes. 

The move follows acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller’s surprise visit to Somalia the day after Thanksgiving, where — among rumors of a drawdown — he assured partner forces of U.S. help in fighting the terrorist groups. The Pentagon on Friday stressed that the United States “is not withdrawing or disengaging from Africa” and officials “remain committed to our African partners and enduring support through a whole-of-government approach.”

Read more: The Hill

Watch Live Stream of LPGA: Volunteers of America Classic (Round 2)

At this week’s Volunteers of America Classic, defending champion and Dallas-area resident Cheyenne Knight headlines a field of 96 of the world’s best female golfers in one of the final events of the 2020 LPGA Tour season. 

Broadcast coverage includes the Volunteers of America Classic Charity Challenge presented by Bullard Inc., where Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller will take on Sophia Popov and Mel Reid in a Solheim Cup-style showdown to earn $75,000 for Volunteers of America. Special appearances will be made by former Dallas Stars player Marty Turco and former Texas Rangers player Ian Kinsler. 

The charity event, held at Old American Golf Club and hosted by Jerry Foltz and Morgan Pressel, will air LIVE on Golf Channel at 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. CST.