Austin: U.S. troops able to assist potential Sudan evacuation

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin stated Friday that the American army has deployed forces and is growing choices to help within the potential evacuation of U.S. Embassy personnel from Sudan, the place the safety state of affairs is deteriorating as a result of combating between two warring factions.

The intention is “to ensure that we provide as many options as possible, if we are called on to do something. We haven’t been called on to do anything yet,” Austin stated at a information convention in Germany, the place he and U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, met with protection leaders from different nations to debate extra assist for Ukraine.

According to an American official, a small variety of U.S. troops have begun arriving within the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, the place the U.S. is pre-positioning forces and gear to help in any potential evacuation of embassy workers from Sudan. The official stated Army troopers are being tapped for the duty.

The U.S. troops are being moved to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. Evacuation planning for Sudan obtained underway in earnest on Monday after a U.S. Embassy convoy was attacked in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.

The battle between Sudan’s army and a rival paramilitary power is worsening. The army has dominated out negotiations and stated it will solely settle for give up as a short lived cease-fire ended, elevating the chance of a renewed surge within the almost weeklong violence that has killed a whole lot.

The U.S. official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to explain personal deliberations, stated Milley mentioned the state of affairs with protection officers from Germany, Italy and Canada, amongst others. One subject was making certain that any potential evacuation efforts didn’t battle.

The U.S. State Department stated Friday that an American citizen had died in Sudan, however didn’t have additional particulars.

“We are in touch with the family and offer our deepest condolences to them on their loss. Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further to add,” the division stated in an announcement.