KENYA: US and Kenya troops start live fire exercises near Kenya - Somalia border

Record ID: 361937

  • Title: KENYA: US and Kenya troops start live fire exercises near Kenya - Somalia border
  • Date: 10th March 2007
  • Summary: US MARINE HELICOPTER LANDING
  • Embargoed: 25th March 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVAICYTDN07PT6K0IMWM7UD63YF
  • Story Text: Elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), on Thursday (March 8) started conducting bilateral military exercise with land and naval forces from the Kenyan military during Edged Mallet '07 scheduled to take place in March.
    The annual exercise provides U.S. and Kenyan armed forces with the opportunity to refine their operational skills while enhancing their ability to work together effectively and strengthening the long-standing military-to-military relationship which exists between the United States and Kenya.
    The military games were conducted in very close proximity of the Somali border where the US military reportedly took part in air attacks against fleeing members of the Islamic Courts Union - ICU, after the Ethiopian military ousted them from the capital Mogadishu and pursued them further south.
    The military exercises will include small arms live-fire and bilateral patrols on designated Kenyan military areas and will remain transparent to local populations and the general public.
    In addition, U.S. military personnel, in conjunction with Kenyan engineers and military doctors, will assist coastal civilian communities with a school refurbishment project and medical clinic.
    The 26th MEU departed North Carolina on January 6 on a routine deployment as the landing force with the Bataan Strike Group. In addition to USS Bataan (LHD-5), the strike group is comprised of the USS Oak Hill (LSD-51), USS Shreveport (LPD-12), USS Nitze (DDG-94), USS Vella Gulf (CG-72), USS Underwood (FFG-36) and USS Scranton (SSN-756).
    The Bataan SG is currently supporting maritime security operations (MSO) in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command area of operations. MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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