Trump plans to withdraw 7 000 troops from Afghanistan

The US military has been ordered to begin planning to withdraw about half the troops in Afghanistan, - CNN has reported citing a US defense official.

The official said planning is underway, and it could take months to withdraw the nearly 7,000 troops.

The decision was made Tuesday, at the same time as President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the US military from Syria -- moves that precipitated Defense Secretary James Mattis' resignation announcement on Thursday.

Several US defense officials told CNN that Trump wants to draw down US troops in Afghanistan. Two administration officials told CNN that Trump wants the plans drawn up in hopes he could announce the drawdown in his State of the Union speech, which is traditionally at the end of January or early February.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned Thursday in protest of President Trump’s decision to withdraw American forces from Syria and his rejection of international alliances.