WASHINGTON — U.S. leaders have actually requested for the implementation of a warship to assist secure U.S.-led soldiers as they withdraw from Afghanistan, 2 senior Defense authorities informed NBC News.
With fighter squadrons ready, a warship in the area might supply extra cover in case U.S. and other NATO forces come under fire as they leave by a Sept. 11 due date set by President Joe Biden. The demand highlights issues at the Pentagon that the Taliban might release attacks on the soldiers as they take out.
The Taliban has actually meant the possibility that it might target U.S.-led forces after May 1 as the United States had actually vowed to take out all forces by the due date under a contract signed in 2015 with the insurgents.
The New York Times initially reported the demand.
No decision has actually been handled the demand from Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, the authorities stated.
“There has been no specific decision about additional assets at this time,” among the authorities stated.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has actually explained the U.S. troop pullout would be performed in a safe and organized method, the authorities included.
At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday, McKenzie stated more soldiers and resources would be released to secure the forces leaving Afghanistan.
“Yes, we will bring additional resources in, in order to protect the force as it comes out,” the general stated. “That is typical in any sort of disengagement operation.“
While he decreased to explain about the withdrawal operation, he stated the United States “will have extra abilities and I’m positive that we … and our union partners will have the ability to extract ourselves. We look every day, every hour at force defense in Afghanistan.”
At a House hearing Tuesday, McKenzie stated U.S. soldiers were prepared if the Taliban selected to target the forces as they withdraw.
“I’m positive that we will have the forces required to secure our forces must the Taliban choose to start assaulting us on [May 1] or any other date,” he stated.
He included: “We will defend ourselves . … We are ready for whatever they choose to do.”
If a provider is bought in, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS Theodore Roosevelt would be most likely prospects. The Eisenhower is presently released in the Mediterranean Sea and the Roosevelt is homeported in San Diego after its last implementation was interrupted by a break out of Covid-19 aboard the ship.
