US, UK and Afghan forces have spent recent weeks on an offensive in Helmand province to increase security ahead of polls. Photo by BGNES
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced a plan on Monday that would expand the size of the US Army in Afghanistan over the next three years.
Gates announced that the US will "temporarily" expand the size of the army to help ease the strain on troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Over the next three years, the size of the US Army will swell to 547 000 soldiers.That means the army is boosting its ranks by up to 22 000 troops.
The US Defence Secretary Robert Gates stated that the persistent pace of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan is putting a strain on the army.
Four US soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in the east of the country on Monday night, making July the deadliest month of the eight-year-old war for US forces.
Meanwhile, top US military officials are vowing that they'll do everything they can to find American soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who is being held hostage by the Taliban.