US military days away from completing its withdrawal from Afghanistan

SANAA, Jun. 30 (YPA) – US officials said Tuesday that the US military apparently days away from completing its withdrawal from Afghanistan, ahead of President Joe Biden’s September 11 deadline to complete the troop withdrawal and end the longest war the United States has fought.

The withdrawal of troops and equipment from Afghanistan will not include troops that will remain to protect diplomats at the US Embassy and likely help secure Kabul airport.

The officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the embassy’s protection force could consist of about 650 soldiers.

The US military stopped publicly disclosing details of its withdrawal after completing more than 50 percent of it earlier in June.

The revelation of the rapid pace of US withdrawal comes at a time when the Taliban are intensifying their attacks across the country.

The Pentagon estimates that the movement currently controls 81 of the country’s 419 regions.

E.M