Defense Secretary Hagel confirms plan to delay U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Hagel confirms plan to delay U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan
(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Speaking from Kabul, Afghanistan, in what is likely his final visit to the region as defense secretary, Chuck Hagel on Saturday confirmed that the United States will delay about 1,000 troops in withdrawing from Afghanistan, NBC News reports.

The U.S. plan had originally been to leave just 9,800 troops in the region by the beginning of 2015; now, Hagel says 10,800 will remain stationed there for at least the first few months of the new year.

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Sarah Eberspacher

Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.