DOD: No decision yet on Afghanistan troop numbers

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has not yet decided how many additional U.S. troops will be sent to Afghanistan, despite a recent media report that he will recommend an increase of 4,000 as early as next week.

"Sec. Mattis has made no decisions on a troop increase for Afghanistan,” Dana White, the Pentagon's chief spokeswoman said in a statement.

“As he said throughout the week in testimony, the revised Afghanistan strategy will be presented to the president for his approval in the coming weeks,” she said. “The president has delegated force management authority for Afghanistan to the secretary. The secretary will continue to follow the president's guidance on our overall strategy. Any decisions about troop numbers will be made only after consultation with the interagency, the Afghan government, NATO allies and coalition partners."

The statement follows an Associated Press story which credits an unnamed Trump administration official with confirming that Mattis has decided to recommend sending an additional 4,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.