http://syn2.thecanadianpress.com:8080/mrss/feed/fcf7391a2f354311807f0501c16bde6a MSN - AP World Copyright © 2010-2018 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved. http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:39:58 +0000 http://syn2.thecanadianpress.com:8080/mrss/feed/fcf7391a2f354311807f0501c16bde6a/e50a57430b5b4b768393c8d341dbb169 A senior U.S. general warned of security fears in Africa as the large-scale U.S.-led African Lion war games with American, African and European troops in Morocco came to a close on Friday. (June 19) e50a57430b5b4b768393c8d341dbb169 Sat, 19 Jun 2021 16:37:21 +0000 SHOTLIST:RESTRICTION SUMMARY:ASSOCIATED PRESS Ben Guerir - 14 June 20211. Various of Moroccan F-16 fighter jets at an airbase as part of the African Lion military exerciseASSOCIATED PRESS Agadir - 15 June 20212. Various of members of the Senegalese National Fire Brigades and Moroccan Royal Armed Forces Rescue & Relief Unit taking part in a biochemical simulation organized by the U.S Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)ASSOCIATED PRESS Tafraout - 14 June 20213. Helicopters carrying U.S and Moroccan special forces taking part in a drill as part of the African Lion military exerciseASSOCIATED PRESS Tan-Tan - 18 June 20214. SOUNDBITE (English) General Stephen J. Townsend, head of the U.S. Africa Command: "That's why America should care, because that (security) problem is going to continue to metastasize and eventually where it will go, the problems will go once they take root in Africa, they'll spread to Europe and eventually the United States. It's a threat to the United States. It may not be a threat to the US homeland right now but it is definitely a threat to America's interests in the world."ASSOCIATED PRESS Ben Guerir - 14 June 20215. Armaments being moved by US forces ++COVERS PREVIOUS SOUNDBITE++ASSOCIATED PRESS Agadir - 15 June 20216. Troops taking part in a biochemical simulation organized by the U.S Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)ASSOCIATED PRESS Tan-Tan - 18 June 20217. SOUNDBITE (English) Major General Andrew Rohling, commander of the U.S. Army's Southern European Task Force Africa:"It has been an exceptional exercise that has helped our interoperability, our joint capabilities, and it has provided readiness and a good opportunity to build cohesion across the forces."8. U.S., Moroccan and Senegalese military forces observe a large-scale drill as part of the African Lion military exerciseSTORYLINE:A senior U.S. general warned of security fears in Africa as the large-scale U.S.-led African Lion war games with American, African and European troops in Morocco came to a close on Friday.The African Lion war games, which lasted nearly two weeks, stretched across Morocco, a key U.S ally, with smaller parts held in Tunisia and Senegal. General Stephen J. Townsend, head of the U.S. Africa Command said he was concerned about the security situation across a band of Africa, from the Sahel region in the west to the Horn of Africa. He noted deadly attacks by al-Qaida and Islamic State-linked jihadis and al-Shabab. Townsend told reporters, "That's why America should care, because that problem is going to continue to metastasize and eventually where it will go, the problems will go once they take root in Africa, they'll spread to Europe and eventually the United States.""It may not be a threat to the US homeland right now but it is definitely a threat to US interests in the world," he added. African Lion saw more than 7,000 troops from seven countries and NATO carry out air, land and sea exercises together."It has been an exceptional exercise that has helped our interoperability, our joint capabilities, and provided readiness and a good opportunity to build cohesion across the forces," said Major General Andrew Rohling, commander of the U.S. Army's Southern European Task Force Africa. The annual drills were skipped last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.There was a hitch at the start of this year's war games, with Spain withdrawing from the war games citing budgetary reasons. Press reports attributed the move to Spain's poor relations with Morocco, a former key partner.The two countries have been at loggerheads since Spain took in the leader of the Polisario Front independence movement - Morocco's number one enemy - for COVID-19 treatment in a Spanish hospital earlier this year.The Polisario is fighting for independence for the Western Sahara, a vast region that Morocco claims as its own.  During the exercise, Morocco held some airborne operations near the Western Sahara and not far from Polisario refugee camps in Tindouf, in neighboring Algeria.The participating countries in African Lion were the U.S., Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Italy, The Netherlands and Britain. Observers also attended from countries including Egypt, Qatar, Niger and Mali.===========================================================Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. A senior U.S. general warned of security fears in Africa as the large-scale U.S.-led African Lion war games with American, African and European troops in Morocco came to a close on Friday. (June 19) Morocco war games end, security fears for Africa