US to send more marines into Afghanistan as troops shore up Helmand defences
THE US military is set to send scores of marines into Afghanistan to offer protection for 300 troops currently serving in the region, officials have revealed.
ISIS targets Iraqi embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan
Taskforce Southwest, who are based in Helmand province, requested the additional troops to assist with internal force protection.
It comes as the hardline Taliban, who previously helped harbour al-Qaeda terrorists, gain strength in the region.
The militant political group was driven from the area after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan which followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Last month the head of Islamic State (ISIS) in Afghanistan was killed in a US strike
But now they have gained control of roughly 85 per cent of Helmand, where US troops were engaged in some of the fiercest fighting of the 2001 conflict.
Officials have confirmed the troop deployment is not part of President Donald Trump’s plan for the region – instead of following a request for support from troops on the ground.
Defence officials went on to tell NBC news that there has been a request for air support in the region but did not confirm why it was needed and which aircraft could be deployed.
Taskforce Southwest are based in Helmand province
Last month the head of Islamic State (ISIS) in Afghanistan was killed in a US strike.
Abu Sayed was confirmed dead following a strike on the terror cult’s headquarters in Kunar province.
In a statement, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said the raid had killed other ISIS members and would "significantly disrupt the terror group's plans to expand its presence in Afghanistan”.
Officials have confirmed the troop deployment is not part of President Trump’s plan for the region
Sayed was the “emir” of ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), the terror group’s Afghanistan affiliate which has been active since 2015, fighting the Taliban as well as Afghan and US forces.
Sayed's death marks the third time an ISIS-K leader has been killed within a year.
Hafiz Sayed Khan was killed in July 2016 and Abdul Hasib was killed during a joint US-Afghan commando raid in April.