US Army Aims to Send Nearly 1,500 Troops to Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States will deploy nearly 1,500 soldiers to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, the US Army said in a news release on Thursday.

"The Department of the Army announced today the deployment of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas, with approximately 1,500 soldiers to Afghanistan this winter," the release stated. "This deployment is part of a regular rotation of forces in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel."

Another 800 soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas will also deploy to Afghanistan this winter, the Army noted.

"The soldiers of the Raptor Brigade have worked very hard to build readiness over the last year, and I am extremely confident in their ability to accomplish our upcoming mission," brigade commander Col. William Ryan stated in the release.

The brigade is stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in the state of Washington.

The Army also announced on Thursday that it will deploy about 3,800 soldiers to Kuwait, which is also a part of regular rotation of troops.