A senior US commander in Afghanistan to resign on Monday

By Courtney Kube - NBC News

KABUL, Afghanistan - The commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan will resign on Monday, according to US defense officials, a move that marks the symbolic end of the US military mission in this country.

General Austin

Scott

 Miller has been in command of the military coalition in Afghanistan since August 2018, longer than any previous commanding general in that role.

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He hands over command of the US forces in Afghanistan to the commander of the US Central Command, Marine General Frank McKenzie.

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As director of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) McKenzie already had authority over Afghanistan and many of the neighboring countries.

It will continue to work from CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and its forward headquarters at Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar.

General Austin 'Scott' Miller, right, speaks with Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, U.S. General Curtis Scapparrotti, left, during a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Wednesday, December 5. .

2018.AP Photo / Francisco Seco

The Biden Administration announced in April that all US troops would withdraw from Afghanistan before September 11 of this year.

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But the withdrawal of the United States is being much more rapid.

When Biden announced the decision, the country had between 2,500 and 3,500 troops deployed to the country, but more than 90% of the US personnel and equipment had left by early July.

After the official end of the military mission on August 31, the United States will keep about 650 troops in Kabul for embassy security and several hundred more to help with security at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Miller is expected to retire, according to three defense officials.