Aug. 23, 2021 DOD Intends to Mandate Pfizer Vaccine, Pentagon Official Says Since the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, it's very likely the vaccine will soon become mandatory for Defense Department personnel, the Pentagon press secretary said.
Aug. 21, 2021 U.S. Seeks to Open More Locations to Aid Evacuation From Kabul, General Says Besides the intermediate way station in Qatar, the U.S. has started using additional sites to include Germany, and discussions are taking place to open other areas as well, Army Maj. Gen. William "Hank" Taylor said.
Aug. 19, 2021 Flow of Evacuees out of Kabul Continuing Apace, Officials Say The Defense Department has the capacity and the capability to move as many people out of Afghanistan as possible, and the number of aircraft is not a limiting factor, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
Aug. 16, 2021 Officials Say Kabul Airport Is Secured; DOD Evacuating Americans, Afghans Securing the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, and evacuating Americans and Afghans with special immigration visas remains the goal of U.S. troops in that nation, an official of the Joint Staff said.
Aug. 16, 2021 President Details Role of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan President Joe Biden addressed the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban and the actions U.S. troops are now taking to facilitate the departure of allies and Afghan partners.
Aug. 13, 2021 Troops En Route to Afghanistan Aim to Help Remove Civilians, Pentagon Official Says U.S. Forces Afghanistan-Forward continue to provide security in Kabul, Afghanistan, at Hamid Karzai International Airport and at the U.S. Embassy, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
July 12, 2021 After Authority Transition in Afghanistan, Airport Security Remains Top Priority Following a transition of authority for the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, a four-pronged mission remains in the country for the U.S. military, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
May 12, 2021 Defense Officials Explain U.S. Policy, Strategy in Afghanistan The threat of violent extremists attacking the U.S. or allies from Afghanistan has been greatly reduced over the past 20 years, and any remaining threat can be addressed without a persistent U.S. military presence there, DOD officials said.
April 27, 2021 Regional Solutions Needed to Address Middle East Security, General Says The two most urgent threats in the Middle East in the coming years will most likely be the proliferation of cheap and capable unmanned aerial vehicles used by extremist groups, as well as humanitarian crises, the U.S. Central Command commander said.
April 22, 2021 Military Leaders Discuss Defense Authorization Request, Future Years Defense Program The commanders of U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Central Command testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2022.