Ryder on Somalia support Training and strike purpose

Oct 4, 2022

Mike Brest asks about a reported recent AFRICOM strike against al-Shabaab and whether the threat is growing. Ryder answers in general terms, describing continued U.S. training, advice and assistance to the Somali government and portraying strikes as efforts to prevent the threat spreading. He refers detailed operational questions to AFRICOM and gives no strike results or trend assessment. He describes al-Shabaab as an offshoot of ISIS; that is retained as his aired characterization, not an independently established affiliation.

Mike Brest asks about a reported recent AFRICOM strike against al-Shabaab and whether the threat is growing. Ryder answers in general terms, describing continued U.S. training, advice and assistance to the Somali government and portraying strikes as efforts to prevent the threat spreading. He refers detailed operational questions to AFRICOM and gives no strike results or trend assessment. He describes al-Shabaab as an offshoot of ISIS; that is retained as his aired characterization, not an independently established affiliation.