(CNN) The US military has been ordered to begin planning to withdraw about half the troops in Afghanistan, a US defense official with direct knowledge of the matter told CNN on Thursday. Several US defense officials told CNN that Trump wants to draw down US troops in Afghanistan. Multiple officials told CNN the military decisions were a factor in Mattis' decision to resign. Gen. John Allen, a former commander of NATO and US forces in Afghanistan, told CNN on Thursday that a drawdown in Afghanistan would be a mistake. The same day news broke of the Afghanistan decision, the Department of Defense released a report on "enhancing security and stability in Afghanistan."

Source: CNN December 21, 2018 01:37 UTC