U.S. And NATO Forces Leave Afghanistan As The Fighting Escalates

 

VOA: US, NATO Troops Leaving Afghanistan as Fighting Escalates 

WASHINGTON - Troops and equipment are leaving Afghanistan, days ahead of the official start of the U.S. withdrawal, the White House said Thursday, marking the beginning of the end of America’s longest war. 

“A drawdown is under way,” White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One, as President Joe Biden headed to Georgia Thursday for a rally. 

“It will be deliberate and conducted in a safe and responsible manner that ensures the protection of our forces,” she said. “Potential adversaries, should they attack us, our withdrawal, we will defend ourselves, our partners, with all the tools at our disposal.” 

Also Thursday, a NATO official confirmed to VOA that some of the 7,000 troops sent to Afghanistan as part of the multinational Operation Resolute Support had also left the country.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The Taliban have all but assured that this is going to happen in the coming months .... Pentagon preparing for Taliban attacks during US withdrawal from Afghanistan (Military Times/AP). More here .... Taliban chief warns of 'unfortunate consequences' in threat to US amid withdrawal delay (Rxpress).  

Update: He is not the only one who is voicing this .... U.S. Military Official Says Afghanistan Could See Military Collapse, Civil War After Troops Leave (Newsweek). More here .... Blinken says US pullout from Afghanistan could lead to civil war, Taliban takeover (NYPost), and here .... Top US general: hard to predict Afghan fate after pullout (Raw Story).  

Update #2: There are some optimists .... Afghan General Says Army Will Survive U.S. Troop Withdrawal (NPR). 

More News On U.S. And NATO Forces Leaving Afghanistan 

U.S. begins Afghanistan withdrawal, deploys military assets to protect troops -- CNBC  

Nato begins troop withdrawal from Afghanistan -- The National  

US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan has begun -- CNN NATO Says Afghanistan Withdrawal Has Begun -- NDTV  

German military wraps up training mission in Afghanistan ahead of withdrawal -- Reuters