A U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan, used as a hub for operations in Afghanistan, has started to shut down and will close by mid-August as ordered by the Central Asian state, its new commander said on Monday. The ex-Soviet republic gave the United States six months from February to shut the Manas air base, but U.S. officials have expressed hope Kyrgyzstan could still change its mind, according to a report of Reuters. Speaking to reporters after taking over as the new commander at the base, Colonel Christopher Bence said the facility had started to wind down operations. "We have started shipping equipment and supplies to other locations," he told reporters after a change-of-command ceremony at the base outside the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. Asked when U.S. forced would leave, he added: "On Aug. 18 as the Kyrgyz government has asked us."
