Pentagon spokesman John Kirby reported yesterday that the movements of troops back to Kabul were already underway: a Marine Corps battalion that was already pre-staged in the region and has lift sustainment and support capabilities and infantry; another Marine Corps infantry battalion from a Marine Expeditionary Unit; and a U.S. Army infantry battalion. “The rest of their forces will continue to flow over the next couple of days. And I expect that by the end of the weekend the bulk of the 3,000 [service members who are deploying] will be in place,” Kirby said. News reports this morning indicated that the first U.S. troops had already arrived.
A brigade combat team from the 82nd Airborne Division is preparing to go to Kuwait is a Ready Reserve force, Kirby said, adding that the team would likely arrive in very short order. Aircraft will support moving civilian personnel, he said, stating also that U.S. Transportation Command is working on its plans and sourcing solutions with Air Mobility Command and Centcom to support the mission. “This is a specific, narrowly focused, tailored mission to help with the safe, secure movement of the reduction of civilian personnel in Kabul, as well as to help support the acceleration of the special immigrant visa process by the State Department,” Kirby emphasized.
