Daily US Times: The US military expects President Donald Trump to order a further withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, according to defense officials.
Officials said those in Afghanistan will be cut from about 5,000 down to 2,500 by mid-January, while in Iraq they will be reduced from 3,000 to 2,500.
President Donald Trump has previously said he wants “all” troops home by Christmas.
Donald Trump is refusing to concede the 3 November election to Joe Biden.
US media reported the withdrawal should be finished by 15 January, just days before Mr Biden’s inauguration as president.
But the president’s reported plan to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan is facing rare criticism from a fellow Republican – Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who warned militants would “love” the idea.
On Monday, while speaking on the floor of the Senate, the Kentucky senator said: “We’re playing a limited – limited – but important role in defending American national security and American interests against terrorists who would like nothing more than for the most powerful force for good in the world to simply pick up our ball and go home.”
“They would love that,” Mr McConnel said.
President Trump has long called for US soldiers to come home and has criticised US military interventions for being ineffective and costly.
According to officials quoted by the Associated Press news agency, military leaders were told at the weekend about the planned withdrawals. They added, an executive order is being drawn up but has not yet been sent to commanders.
You may read: ‘More people may die’ as Trump transition stalls, Biden says
