On Sunday, the Pentagon authorized the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, bringing the total number of troops on the ground to 6,000 as the Taliban continues its advances in the capital city of Kabul. The additional troops will be drawn from the 82nd Airborne Division, which was already on standby. The news of additional troops being sent to Afghanistan comes after President Biden announced on Saturday that the U.S. would send 1,000 more troops to Afghanistan to assist with evacuating U.S. personnel. The Pentagon had revealed on Thursday that it was deploying 3,000 more troops to the country to help facilitate the withdrawal of embassy staff. The American flag at the compound was lowered on Sunday, marking the final step in the evacuation of staff from the building.
The deployment of troops to Afghanistan comes as they face a rapidly deteriorating security situation, with the Taliban making significant gains in the region. Taliban fighters entered the presidential palace in the capital city of Kabul on Sunday, and members of the group’s leadership addressed the media from the throne of power, according to photos published by Al Jazeera. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country as Taliban fighters seized Kabul on Sunday, later writing in a Facebook post that he did so to avoid bloodshed.
The situation in Afghanistan comes as the U.S. was nearing completion of its withdrawal process, which President Biden had previously stated was expected to finish at the end of this month.
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