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The US has 1.3 million troops stationed around the world — here are the major hotspots

More than 450,000 US troops are stationed overseas, in hotspots like Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.

Marines participating in an exercise in Hawaii in 2014.  (U.S. Marine Corps / Lance Cpl. Matthew Bragg)

The US military has over 1.3 million men and women on active duty, with more than 450,000 of them stationed overseas.

Many of these stationed service members perform training exercises and other duties at rather safe bases. Then there are others who are deployed to conflict zones like Syria or Iraq or potential "hotspots" like Somalia.

We pulled together the numbers and units from around the military to show you where service members are engaged.

US troops are deployed in hotspots around the world, including places like Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.

US troops are deployed in hotspots around the world, including places like Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.  (Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock/US Air Force)

Here's a look at some of the most significant deployments for American soldiers.
Here's a look at some of the most significant deployments for American soldiers.  (Skye Gould/Business Insider)

In Afghanistan, about 8,400 US troops, most of which are US Army soldiers, are authorized to take part in Resolute Support, which aims to train, advise, and assist the Afghan security forces and institutions in their fight against the Taliban and other terrorist networks.

A new report, however, recently revealed that there are actually about 12,000 US troops in the country. The Pentagon then said on Aug. 30 that about 11,000 US troops are in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, about 4,000 to 6,000 soldiers are taking part in Operation Inherent Resolve, which aims to eliminate the Islamic State. Only 5,262 US troops are authorized to be in Iraq, but the actual numbers have been larger for a while as commanders leverage what they call temporary — or "nonenduring" — assignments like the one involving the 82nd Airborne in Mosul.

In Syria, 500 US special forces and 250 Rangers are working in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The Pentagon is also mulling sending an additional 1,000 US service members to the war-torn country.

A new BuzzFeed News report, however, also said that there are really about 2,000 US forces in Syria — about 850 (including US Marines) then previously thought.

In Kuwait, about 15,000 soldiers are spread among Camp Arifjan, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, and Ali Al Salem Air Base. About 3,800 soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team also deployed there late last year.

In Poland, about 3,500 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team are stationed as part of Atlantic Resolve, which seeks to halt Russian aggression. These soldiers will help train local forces and provide security, eventually fanning out to other countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary to do the same.

In Ukraine, approximately 250 Oklahoma National Guardsmen are training Ukrainian forces in support of Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.

In Somalia, about 40 US soldiers from the 101st Airborne division are assisting the central government in training its forces and fighting the terrorist group al-Shabab.

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