"We will be prepared to support the government of Somalia when they ask," a Pentagon spokesperson said. "We are planning what we can provide."
![People are putting themselves at unnecessary risk by trying to catch the animals [BI]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'100'%20height%3D'100'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "People are putting themselves at unnecessary risk by trying to catch the animals [BI]")
The US military already has 400 troops on the ground in Somalia providing training and advice for the Somali military and also logistical support.
The US supports the country's fight against the Shabaab jihadist rebel group, which is believed to have been behind the explosion on Saturday.
No Americans have been identified among the victims of the blast, which took place at a junction in Hodan, a busy commercial district in northwestern Mogadishu that has many shops, hotels and other businesses.
In addition to the 276 killed, at least 300 were injured.
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![Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden [BBC]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'300'%20height%3D'172'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden [BBC]")
