U.S. Deployment Of Additional Soldiers To Afghanistan Has Begun

New York Times: Mattis Orders First Group of Reinforcements to Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday that he had signed deployment orders for some of the American reinforcements that are to be sent to Afghanistan.

It is the first tangible step that the Pentagon has taken to carry out the new strategy that President Trump announced last week to step up the fight in Afghanistan and try to take back the initiative from the Taliban.

“I have signed orders, but it is not complete,” Mr. Mattis said. “In other words, I have signed some of the troops that will go and we are identifying the specific ones.”

Although Mr. Mattis did not say which forces were being deployed, administration officials have previously said the Pentagon will send nearly 4,000 additional troops, some of whom are expected to come from the 82nd Airborne Division.

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Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Confirms That The First Deployment Of Reinforcements To Afghanistan Have Begun

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Mattis signs orders to send additional troops to Afghanistan -- Reuters
Mattis signs orders for more Afghanistan troops; says he's not at odds with Trump -- CBS News
US defense secretary orders new troops to Afghanistan -- AFP
Pentagon Begins Deploying Additional Troops to Afghanistan -- TIME
Mattis Signs Orders to Deploy Additional Troops to Afghanistan -- Washington Free Beacon