US President Biden announced recently that all American troops in Afghanistan would be pulled back before September 11 this year, ending the 20-year war, the longest in American history. The withdrawal is symbolic as there are only 5,000 American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, far from enough to affect the global strategic landscape.
Soldiers fast-rope from transport helicopters Soldiers assigned to a combined arms brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army queue to board a transport helicopter during day-and-night fast-roping training in early April, 2021.
Fighter jets soar into sky during flight training A fighter jet attached to an air force aviation brigade under the PLA Eastern Theater Command practices preset attack and defense tactical objectives during a flight training exercise in late March, 2021.
Amphibious armored vehicles move forward at sea Amphibious armored vehicles attached to a brigade of the PLA 73rd Group Army march forward in the water during a maritime driving drill on March 29, 2021.
Anti-submarine patrol aircraft conduct submarine search training A ground crew member assigned to an aviation regiment with the navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command guides an anti-submarine patrol aircraft towards the take-off line during a submarine search training exercise in the middle of March, 2021.
Gunship in live-fire assault training A gunship attached to an army aviation brigade under the PLA 72nd Group Army releases infrared jamming projectiles during an aerial combat training exercise in southern Jiangsu Province on March 30, 2021.
Tanks attack mock targets during live-fire training A tank attached to a combined arms brigade under the PLA 72nd Group Army attacks mock targets while advancing during a live-fire training exercise from March 26 to 29, 2021.
Air-cushioned landing crafts conduct beach landing training A Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) attached to a naval landing ship flotilla under the PLA Southern Theater Command arrives on shore during a beach landing training exercise on March 24, 2021.
Armored vehicles in round-the-clock assessment Armored vehicles attached to a combined arms brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army carry out round-the-clock shooting assessment with multiple ammunitions on April 1, 2021.
Bomber takes off during cross-area maneuver training A bomber attached to an aviation division of the air force under the PLA Central Theater Command takes off for the cross-area maneuver training in late March.
Gunship formation takes off in morning light Helicopters attached to an aviation brigade under the PLA Xinjiang Military Command take off in the morning light during recent tactical training aiming to improve pilots' flight skills and combat capability.
