President Obama to Announce Plans for Afghanistan Troop Reduction

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) -- In an address to the nation Wednesday night, President Obama is expected to announce a slow drain on American troop strength in Afghanistan.

The president will order a drawdown of 10,000 U.S. troops before the end of 2011, ABC News has learned, with the first troops returning next month. By next summer, in 2012, all of the remaining forces in the 33,000 troop surge would be withdrawn.

The president's address is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio