Spain to boost Afghan mission by 511 troops

Following a US call for additional reinforcement for its military campaign in Afghanistan, Spain announced Friday it intends to send 511 extra troops to the country.

The Spanish Defense Ministry said in a statement that the additional troops “will comprise three teams of instructors for the Afghan army, a unit handling maneuvers, protection and logistical support, and headquarters reinforcements.”

The Spanish government will propose the build-up to the parliament on February 17.

There are currently 1,065 Spanish troops stationed in western Afghanistan as part of the roughly 100,000-strong US-led force.

US President Barack Obama in December promised the deployment of 30,000 American troops, adding that the US expected its allies to contribute 5,000 additional soldiers to the mission.

Violence continues to spread across Afghanistan more than eight years after the US-led invasion that aimed to topple the Taliban and root out al-Qaeda militants.