Politics

Mattis orders more troops to Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Thursday he had signed orders to deploy more troops to Afghanistan to carry out President Trump’s new war strategy.

Mattis told reporters Thursday at the Pentagon he would not reveal details until he briefed members of Congress next week.

He would not say how many additional troops are deploying or what their exact roles will be.

In general, he added, the extra forces will support Afghan forces, rather than doing the fighting for the Afghans.

Other officials have said the US will send about 3,900 additional troops to join the roughly 11,000 already there.

With AP