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Kabul, Afghanistan (KROC-AM News) - The Pentagon says about 1100 members of the Minnesota National Guard Troops have been deployed to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation of US citizens, other foreign nationals, and at-risk Afghans.

The members of Task Force 1-194 are with the First Combined Arms Battalion and are headquartered at Camp Ripley. The soldiers, based at armories in central and northwestern Minnesota along with the Twin Cities, were sent to the Middle East in the spring for a 9-month deployment in support of U.S Central Command's mission in the region and were based in Kuwait.

A news release from the U.S. Army says the Minnesota Guard Members have joined the 82nd Airborne Division and several other regular Army units to participate in what has been named Operation Allies Refuge at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

"This task force will bring together Soldiers from several units across the state,” said Lt. Col. Jacob Helgestad, commander of Task Force 1-194. “Our Soldiers are well-trained and ready for this mission and I’m confident they will represent the State of Minnesota well.”

President Biden yesterday indicated the evacuation of Americans and others from Afghanistan is on pace to be completed by the August 31st deadline for the withdrawal of US forces from the war-torn nation.

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