Italian Forces Hand Over Military Camp in Herat to ANDSF

After two decades of deployment, Italian forces on Wednesday handed over control of a military camp in Herat to Afghan forces.

Afghan military officials said Italian forces have pulled out their military equipment as well as destroyed some.

In recent weeks, loud explosions have been heard from the camp and military officials said the Italian forces destroyed large numbers of armored vehicles and heavy weapons before evacuating.

“In terms of military equipment, nothing was left for us from the Italians,” said Major General Sayed Emal Pacha, the commander of an Afghan air force division.

“We pledge that our security and defense forces across Afghanistan are ready to defend our country and the people in the western zone and in Herat,” said Abdul Saboor Qane, governor of Herat.

“All aviation services are being carried out by the professional cadres of Khawja Abdullah Ansari airport. There have been no problems at all at the airport following the withdrawal of foreign forces and flights are being carried out normally and regularly,” said Abdul Shaheer Salehi, the director of Herat airport.

With the withdrawal of Italian forces from Herat, the control of Herat’s airport was also handed over to the Afghan government.

Meanwhile, Germany also completed the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan.

Germany’s last troops left Afghanistan on Tuesday after nearly 20 years of deployment in the country, said German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

The German defense minister said in a tweet that the last Bundeswehr soldiers “left Afghanistan safely” on Tuesday evening.

She thanked the more than 150,000 troops who have served there since 2001 and said that “they can be proud of this mission.”