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Intel: Why the US is expelling dozens of Saudi military trainees

Washington is expected to expel more than a dozen Saudi military trainees from the United States.
Saudi Arabia Defense Attache Major General Fawaz Al Fawaz and his Embassy staff and other officials arrive to meet with the Saudi students who remain restricted to the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola base by their Saudi commanding officer, in Pensacola, Florida, U.S. December 9, 2019. Picture taken December 9, 2019.  FBI Jacksonville/Handout via REUTERS  THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC2ISD9FA7KW

Washington is expected to expel more than a dozen Saudi military trainees from the United States, CNN reported on Sunday. The expulsions come after a security review found some trainees have alleged ties to extremist movements and others possessed child pornography. The dozens of students represent a tiny fraction of the 850 Saudi military trainees stationed in bases throughout the United States.

Why it matters: The FBI launched a review of all Saudi military students in the country after one trainee, Mohammed Alshamrani, killed three and wounded eight others in a shooting at a Florida naval base last month. CNN reports that the Justice Department is expected to conclude the shooting was an act of terrorism.

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