U.S. Sending 100 More Marines to Afghanistan

The U.S. is sending about 100 more Marines to the Helmand Province to help the 300 Americans who are already there advising and assisting Afghan security forces, according to U.S. defense officials,

The U.S. officials said this deployment is not tied to the Trump administration’s long-awaited new South Asia strategy, but instead fulfills a request from the commander on the ground, Marine Brig Gen Roger Turner. It was approved by Gen Joseph Votel at Central Command.

A spokesman for Resolute Support, NATO’s advise, train and assist mission in Afghanistan also confirmed the move, saying the forces would be deployed “for a short period of time to assist Marines already there” in Task Force Southwest advising Afghan forces as they fight the Taliban, the spokesman said.

The U.S. defense officials said there is also a request for more U.S. air support in Afghanistan, but none of them would provide detail on what is needed and why. The additional air assets have not yet been deployed.

There are currently about 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan advising and assisting the Afghan security forces fighting the Taliban.