The commander of the U.S.-led anti-terror task force in Djibouti has denied reports that U.S. Marines landed on the Somali coast this week.
Major General Samuel Helland Friday called the reports a fabrication, and said Somali officials were probably confused by a military training mission that took place off the coast of neighboring Djibouti late last week.
The Pentagon also denied the reports.
Thursday, Somali officials said around 20 Marines in boats landed in the northwestern enclave of Somaliland Tuesday where they showed pictures of suspected terrorists to locals.
The U.S. anti-terror task force in Djibouti was set up in 2002 as part of U.S. efforts to fight terrorism following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.
