A U.S. Department of Defense official stated that the American military has begun shipping equipment and terminating contracts with local service providers ahead of the final phase of its military withdrawal from Afghanistan on May 1, according to the "Al-Hurra" website today, Thursday. The withdrawal under President Joe Biden marks the conclusion of the longest war the United States has fought after 20 years of military operations.
Currently, there are about 2,500 U.S. troops and 7,000 allied troops in Afghanistan. In February of last year, the U.S. military began closing its smaller bases. In mid-April, the Biden administration announced the start of the final phase of withdrawal on May 1, to be completed before September 11.
Since then, the U.S. military has started shipping its equipment and ending local contracts with service providers such as maintenance and garbage removal, according to an American official speaking to the Associated Press, requiring anonymity in accordance with regulations.
Despite the ongoing preparations, the troops will not begin to leave for several weeks, according to the official who added, "We will not see a reduction in troop numbers" until the remaining bases close. There have been indications that the withdrawal could be completed before September 11, the 20th anniversary of the Al-Qaeda attacks on the United States that led to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.
