EXCLUSIVE: Elite British terror troops to be sent to Somalia to smash Al-Shabab and Islamic State

LONDON, THE UK - Hundreds of elite British troops are preparing to be sent to Somalia within months to help fight growing terrorist networks.

Infantry forces will step up a training mission to teach Somali special forces how to smash the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab and Islamic State threat.

British officers from an elite Army unit are already in the region making plans for the mission which is expected to launch in late Spring 2022.

It comes in the wake of the death of Tory MP David Amess, 69, who was stabbed to death in an alleged terrorist attack during his constituency surgery.

British man Ali Harbi Ali, 25, whose family is originally from Somalia, has been charged with murder after being arrested at the scene of the killing on October 15.

Sources have told the Mirror the deployment of more troops to Somalia was under discussion before the Amess death.

A small number of UK forces have been in Somalia helping with training for some time but now the operation is being stepped up.

They are training the 60th Somalia National Army Division between camps in Baidoa and the capital Mogadishu.

But more troops are being lined up to help train Somali Special Forces, who are part of Mogadishu’s “Danab” or Lightning unit.

The Daily Mirror understands highly-trained British infantry units may mentor the “Danab” on operations against al-Shabab and Islamic State.

A source told the Daily Mirror: “Senior soldiers are already in the region, mapping out where the new troops will be based and what they will be doing.

“Their mission is sensitive as although a few scores of British troops are already in Somalia, this will put a new emphasis on counter-terror operations there.

“The scouting mission has also been liaising across the border in Kenya with local counter-terror agencies about the growing terror threat.”

The source said the plans were discussed before the death of the Tory MP.

US forces have also been in Somalia for some years helping local troops battle al-Shabab, which means the “youth.”

The heavily-armed al-Shabab group, linked to al-Qaeda, has spread its influence into neighboring countries across East Africa.

It is well-funded by kidnappings, robberies, extortion and there is also a suspicion it has received backing from corrupt officials in Eritrea.

The group has also attacked Kampala, Uganda in 2010, killing 74, and in a Nairobi, Kenya shopping mall in 2013, killing 67.
Islamic State is also on the rise in the region.

Despite multiple Mirror sources confirming the increased Somalia troop deployment, including seeing the forward party in Somalia, the MoD tonight tried to play it down.

An MoD spokesperson insisted: “There are no current plans to significantly increase our footprint in Somalia. As standard practice, all operations are kept under review to ensure they remain operationally effective.

“Our enduring commitment to Somalia consists of 70 personnel who support the capacity building of Somali security forces by delivering training and providing equipment.”

Source:/Mirror