Biden to send troops back into Somalia following Trump-era withdrawal

President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order to deploy U.S. troops to Somalia to thwart the al Qaeda-affiliate terror group al-Shabaab.

The move follows former President Trump withdrawing forces from the East African nation toward the end of his term.

Biden's decision was confirmed by a senior administration official and follows Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requesting the deployment to establish a "more effective fight against al-Shabaab, which has increased in strength and poses a heightened threat."

The official, who requested anonymity to discuss the decision ahead of a formal announced, said American forces already in the region would be repositioned, according to the Associated Press. 

The New York Times reports that the number of troops to be sent will be no more than 450. Trump formerly ordered the 700 troops stationed in Somalia to withdraw by early 2021. Those troops has been stationed to help quell al-Shabaab by carrying out air strikes and training local forces to fight. 

Earlier this year, reports began to trickle out that the Pentagon was advising Biden to send troops back to Somalia as it noticed an uptick in activities from al-Shabaab.