President Donald J. Trump said all of America’s troops will be out of Afghanistan and home by Christmas, ending the nation’s nearly 20-year involvement in the Central Asian nation’s civil war between the Taliban and government forces. The war started after the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center by former President George W. Bush, but persisted in a quagmire through most of President Barack Obama’s eight years in office.
“We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas,” Trump declared.
3,595 U.S. service members have died during the 19-year conflict, including 10 in 2020. Under Trump casualties in Afghanistan have remained significantly lower than during Obama’s presidency. In July, 8,600 troops were still deployed to the country.