2,000 US troops continue to fight in Afghanistan

摘要

US special operation forces are still in Afghanistan, where about 2,000 operators are conducting a counter-terrorism mission "to disrupt al Qaeda and key facilitators", according to a 16 June Pentagon report. These operations are "primarily in partnership with Afghan Special Security Force units", said the report. Despite ending its 'combat mission' in Afghanistan, legally the United States "remains in an armed conflict against al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces", although US forces "no longer target individuals solely because they are members of the Taliban" and now only if they pose a direct threat to US or coalition personnel, said the Pentagon.