Biden Increases Troops Deployment to Afghanistan amid Taliban Advances

On Saturday, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he has authorized the deployment of about 5,000 troops to Afghanistan to support the personnel drawdown, urging the Taliban not to jeopardize U.S. personnel or the mission.

In a statement, Biden said he had authorized the deployment of some 5,000 U.S. soldiers to ensure an orderly and secure withdrawal of U.S. and ally forces, as well as the evacuation of Afghans who assisted the U.S. troops during our operation and those at special risk from the Taliban assault.

The U.S. military had told Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, that any action that put U.S. soldiers or missions in jeopardy would be met with a rapid and forceful U.S. military reaction, according to Biden.

He also defended his decision to leave the country following a two-decade conflict. He said that an additional year, or five years, of U.S. military presence would have made little difference if the Afghan military could not or would not hold its own nation. "And an endless American presence in the middle of another country's civil conflict was not acceptable to me," he added.

The State Department announced an additional decrease of U.S. forces in Kabul on Thursday, citing the deteriorating security situation. To facilitate the drawdown, the Pentagon authorized three infantry battalions, totaling around 3,000 troops, to deploy to Kabul airport. In addition, a 3,500-strong infantry brigade combat team will deploy to Kuwait in case more troops are required.

According to a defense official, Biden gave his approval to send the message on Saturday morning the 82nd Airborne Brigade Combat Team's lead battalion - about 1,000 troops - to help with the State Department's drawdown. The Brigade Combat Team's remaining two battalions will be stationed in Kuwait as a ready reserve.

According to the official, the 5,000 US troops in Kabul include 1,000 troops already on the ground to secure the airport and embassy, three infantry battalions expected to arrive by the end of the weekend, and 1,000 newly approved soldiers.