A reduction of US military in Iraq and Afghanistan

1 The USA — Iraq

Kayleigh McEnany, a White House spokeswoman, announced that the USA are reducing the number of the US troops in Iraq. «President Donald Trump and the Pentagon announce a troop reduction in Iraq» — the spokeswoman stated. The number of the US troops, stationed in Iraq, will be reduced from 5,200 to 3,000. Thus, she confirmed the words of the head of the US Central Command, General Kenneth McKenzie, who stated on Wednesday that the American contingent in Iraq would be reduced from 5,200 to 3,000. The White House spokeswoman reminded that Donald Trump is fulfilling his promise to seek an increase of the military spending among the the US foreign allies, as well as an expansion of their role in the joint military campaigns.

2 The USA — Afghanistan

The head of US Central Command, General Kenneth McKenzie, stated during an interviews to the »Voice of America», »Defense One» and »The New York Times» that the US will reduce their contingent in Afghanistan from 8,600 to 4,500. “By November we will be close to 4,500 troops in Afghanistan” — he stated. According to him, the remaining servicemen will be able to carry out all the necessary tasks in Afghanistan. The general added that «the USA have demonstrated that we don’t want to be an occupying force in that country.» “We have strategic and vital interests that make us confident that the terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS, won’t be there to attack the USA” — McKenzie added.

3 Afghanistan

The Afghan TV channel ‘Tolo News’ reported that on Friday a delegation from the Afghan government will travel to the capital of Qatar, Doha, to the peace negotiations with the representatives of the radical movement Taliban. The inter-Afghan dialogue is expected to begin the day after the arrival of the Afghan government delegation to the capital of Qatar.

4 India — China

‘The Hindustan Times’ reported while citing the Indian military sources that China and India are moving new troops to the control line in the eastern Ladakh. Tensions on that section of the border are increasing. «China has 50,000 troops, tanks, artillery, 150 fighters and air defense missile systems in Ladakh and neighboring border regions. India responded to the concentration of the Chinese troops in the same way» — the newspaper quoted their sources. It was noted that the situation remains especially tense and unstable in the area of ​​the mountain lake Pangong Tso, where 5,000 to 7,000 troops and up to 20 tanks of the Chinese army are being stationed. On the night of 6th of September, after the Indian troops occupied the heights on the northern shore of the lake, which were previously under the Chinese control — the Indian and Chinese troops in the area are currently only 200 meters apart. Recently the Chinese military have, reportedly, made several unsuccessful attempts to push out the Indian troops, and regain the full control of the northern part of the lake Pangong Tso. «The military confrontation continues in Ladakh. In such conditions, India is ready for the unforeseen circumstances and any development of the events» — sources of the ‘Hindustan Times’ concluded.

5 Yemen

The »Al-Masira» TV reported that the Yemeni rebels from the ‘Ansar Allah’ movement announced a series of air-strikes against an important target in the Saudi capital. «The air force used drones and missiles to conduct a joint operation by using a ballistic missile, 4 ‘Samad’ drones, and 3 other drones to hit an important target in Riyadh» — said an Ansar Allah spokesperson, Yahya Saria. On Thursday morning, the Arab coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, announced an interception of a explosive drone, launched at the south of the kingdom. The coalition has yet to confirm the Yemeni drone strikes on Riyadh.

6 Ukraine

The office of the Ukrainian President, Vladimyr Zelenskyy, reported that the Ukrainian authorities had abandoned the planned inspection of their positions on the contact line in Donbass on Thursday since they were unable to conduct mirror checks of the positions of the people’s militia of the DPR and the LPR. The head of the Ukrainian delegation to the contact group, Leonid Kravchuk, stated that Ukraine sent a letter to the OSCE Special Representative in the Contact Group, Heidi Grau, with a request to hold additional consultations on a joint inspection with the DPR near the village of Gorlovka. The DPR office at the Joint Center for the Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire announced that the joint inspection was disrupted due to the fault of Ukraine. «Ukraine, at the very last moment, demanded new, impossible requirements for the implementation of the inspection». Constantine Reztsov, specially for ANNA NEWS.