"Just because these expanded authorities have been authorized by the Commander-in-Chief [President Barack Obama], that does not limit in any way our ability to follow through with the plan to draw down our troops at a level of 5,500 troops by the end of this year," Earnest told reporters.
On Thursday, US media reported that the Obama administration would give US forces broader authority to advise conventional Afghan troops with missions the same way they have been assisting Afghan special forces personnel.
Earnest emphasized that US forces would not be in a combat role and the US mission in Afghanistan has not changed.
"These forces are trained for combat, they are going to be armed for combat," but will not be in a combat role, Earnest asserted, equating the situation to the role of US troops in Iraq and Syria.
The Obama administration maintains that US troops in those countries serve local fighters in an advise-and-assist role, and are not involved in direct combat.
