US commander in Afghanistan says steps for withdrawal have begun

US army general says foreign military bases in Afghanistan will be gradually handed over to Afghan forces.

The commander of foreign military forces in Afghanistan has said “local action” has begun as part of the planned withdrawal of foreign troops from the country, about two weeks after US President Joe Biden announced all US forces would leave by September 11. US Army General Scott Miller said on Sunday that foreign military bases would be gradually handed over to Afghan forces. “All our forces are now preparing to retrograde. Officially the notification date will be the 1st of May, but at the same time as we start taking local actions, we have already begun that,” said Miller, who has commanded US forces and the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan since 2018.