Number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan passes number in Iraq

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For the first time since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, there are more U.S. forces serving in Afghanistan than in Iraq.

The Pentagon says that as of Saturday, 94,000 U.S. forces were in Afghanistan and 92,000 in Iraq.

The figure for Afghanistan will rise to roughly 98,000 later this year with the Obama administration’s commitment of additional forces.

The level of U.S. forces in Iraq have fallen from a high of more than 160,000 in 2007, when they were in heavy combat there. All U.S. combat forces are scheduled to leave Iraq by September.

In his presidential campaign, Barack Obama called for a quick end to the war in Iraq and expansion of the Afghan conflict. Since taking office he has sent more than 40,000 additional U.S. forces to Afghanistan.

-- Associated Press