French troops prepare for Afghan withdrawal
- 12 years ago
Transport helicopters head for Afghanistan's Surobi Forward Operating Base.
French soldiers are pulling out of the base, and this video - released by the French Army - shows soldiers packing up military equipment and preparing for it to be moved from the base.
French President François Hollande visited Afghanistan in May to defend his plan for accelerating France's withdrawal of its roughly 3,400 troops to the end of this year, breaking with NATO's timetable for departure.
2,000 French troops are due to leave this year, but some will remain to provide support and training, and to look after equipment.
France has 14 helicopters, 900 vehicles and 1,400 containers that need to be taken out.
Most foreign combat troops are set to pull out by the end of 2014.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
French soldiers are pulling out of the base, and this video - released by the French Army - shows soldiers packing up military equipment and preparing for it to be moved from the base.
French President François Hollande visited Afghanistan in May to defend his plan for accelerating France's withdrawal of its roughly 3,400 troops to the end of this year, breaking with NATO's timetable for departure.
2,000 French troops are due to leave this year, but some will remain to provide support and training, and to look after equipment.
France has 14 helicopters, 900 vehicles and 1,400 containers that need to be taken out.
Most foreign combat troops are set to pull out by the end of 2014.
Travis Brecher, Reuters