Pentagon Says 3,000 More U.S. Troops In Afghanistan Since August
Source: Radio Free Europe
November 17, 2017 07:51 GMT
Approximately 3,000 additional American troops have now deployed to Afghanistan under President Donald Trump's revised strategy for the war-torn country, the Pentagon said on November 16.
The Pentagon had previously put the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan at about 11,000 but Trump in August authorized an increase requested by General John Nicholson, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan and head of NATO's Resolute Support Mission.
"We've just completed a force flow into Afghanistan," Joint Staff Director Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie told Pentagon reporters.
Nicholson has said he needs nearly 16,000 troops overall in Afghanistan, and NATO nations have pledged to help make up the difference.
Read more: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-us-troops-3000-deployed/28859231.html
TRUMP'S AFGHANISTAN TROOP SURGE IS COMPLETE, RAISING TOTAL NUMBER OF U.S. SERVICEMEN TO 14,000
BY JACK MOORE ON 11/17/17 AT 7:33 AM
President Donald Trump's pledge to expand U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan has been realized, bringing the total number of American soldiers in the country to 14,000, the Pentagon announced on Thursday.
Thousands of troops have poured into Afghanistan since Trump’s announcement in August of a broader U.S. role in the country, as opposed to a withdrawal. The increase came at the request of General John Nicholson, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan and the leader of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission.
“We've just completed a force flow into Afghanistan,” Joint Staff Director Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie told Pentagon reporters, according to Radio Free Europe. “The new number for Afghanistan is now approximately 14,000. Might be a little above that, might be a little below that as we flex according to the mission.”
Nicholson has said that he needs around 16,000 troops in the country, and NATO members are to make up the 2,000 shortfall. NATO, the military alliance that Trump has pledged to support with the caveat that its members contribute more resources, has said that it is “fully committed” to the new strategy.
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http://www.newsweek.com/trumps-afghanistan-troop-surge-complete-raising-total-number-us-servicemen-714588
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