Pentagon chief Christopher Miller announced on Friday, January 14 that the United States' military strength now stands at 2,500 in Afghanistan as well as in Iraq, in accordance with outgoing President Donald Trump's wish to put an end to "
endless wars
".
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"
Today, the American military personnel in Afghanistan amount to 2,500 soldiers
", indicated in a statement Christopher Miller, who assumes the interim head of the Pentagon until the assumption of functions of the next American president Joe Biden Wednesday.
"
Ordered by President Trump, this withdrawal that I announced on November 17 lowers the American military personnel in the country to the lowest since 2001
", added Christopher Miller, appointed to this post in early November, after the dismissal of his predecessor Mark Esper, who was reluctant to accelerate this withdrawal.
"
Today the United States is closer than ever to ending nearly 20 years of war
", Said the interim defense minister, while Afghanistan is plagued by an upsurge in violence, despite peace talks between the Taliban and the government underway since September in Doha.
"
With 2,500 men, the command has what it needs to protect America, our people and our interests,
" he said, adding however that a total withdrawal remains "
subject to conditions
" of security. .
In Iraq, the level of US military deployment has also been reduced to 2,500 troops, a reduction which "
reflects the increased capabilities of the Iraqi army,
" added Christopher Miller.
This reduction "
does not mean a change in US policy
," he said.
“
The United States and coalition forces remain in Iraq to ensure a lasting defeat
” of the Islamic State (IS) group.
"
We will continue to have a counter-terrorism base in Iraq to support the forces of our partners with air and intelligence capabilities
," he concluded.
"
Most of the operations in Iraq were already carried out by our Iraqi partners
."
