Sep 18, 2017

U.S. sending over 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan

U.S. and NATO soldiers take part in a ceremony to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Rahmat Gul / AP

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters in the Pentagon that the U.S. is planning to send more than 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, per Reuters.

"It is exactly over 3,000 somewhat and frankly I haven't signed the last of the orders right now as we look at specific, small elements that are going." — Secretary Mattis

This comes about a month after Trump announced his plans to carry forward the war. There are already about 11,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Go deeper: Trump's plan for Afghanistan.

This has been updated with Secretary Mattis' full quote.

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