US and Afghan officials told The Washington Post that the US has closed at least 10 of its bases in Afghanistan since signing a peace deal with the Taliban in February. The closures are part of the drawdown process. The US is expected to bring troop numbers down to 2,500 by January 15th.
Some of the officials said the US is making decisions about whether certain military equipment will be turned over to the Afghan government or sent back to the US. Despite the drawdowns, one official said the US will still be able to carry out airstrikes against the Taliban and ISIS.
The US-Taliban peace deal paved the way for all foreign troops to leave Afghanistan by Spring 2021. It’s not yet clear if the full withdrawal will happen. The incoming Biden administration could use the recent uptick in violence in the country as an excuse to stay.
In an interview with Stars and Stripes in September, Joe Biden said he could not promise a full withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden said he would prefer to keep a small troop presence in the country, as well as in Iraq and Syria.
Stay for ever in the graveyard of empires, Joe.