Pentagon Confirms 11,000 US Troops in Afghanistan - Joint Staff Director

US Defense Department confirmed that approximately 11,000 US troops are currently positioned in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Approximately 11,000 US troops are currently stationed in Afghanistan, Defense Department Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

"Under the new, simplified accounting methodology the current total forces number in Afghanistan is approximately 11,000," McKenzie stated.

The number is 2,600 higher than the previously announced one because the Pentagon has included other categories of troops, like those on temporary duty status, assigned to combat support agencies and the Resolute Support sustainment brigade among others, McKenzie added. He noted that the new estimate does include the counterterrorism mission forces.

This new number does not include any future deployments that could be made in order to accomplish President Donald Trump's new strategy for southeast Asia, McKenzie explained.

In July of 2016, former President Barack Obama announced the United States would keep 8,400 US military personnel in Afghanistan until the end of his administration. That was the last time the US government officially announced the number of troops in Afghanistan.