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U.S., NATO end Afghan combat command after 13 years

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U.S., NATO end Afghan combat command after 13 years

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KABUL The U.S. and NATO closed their combat command in Afghanistan on Monday, more than 13 years after invading the country in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks to target al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

Though it quickly routed the Taliban-led government that sheltered the militants, the U.S.-led coalition soon found itself spending billions of dollars rebuilding a country devastated by almost 30 years of war while an insurgency grew as the invasion and occupation of Iraq quickly took Americas attention.

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U.S., NATO end Afghan combat command after 13 years

US, NATO end combat command in Afghanistan

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Kabul, Afghanistan The US and NATO closed their combat command in Afghanistan on Monday, more than 13 years after invading the country in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks to target Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

Though quickly routing the Taliban-led government that sheltered the militants, the US-led coalition soon found itself spending billions of dollars rebuilding a country devastated by almost 30 years of war while an insurgency grew as the invasion and occupation of Iraq quickly took America's attention.

As NATO's International Security Assistance Force's Joint Command, which was in charge of combat operations, lowered its flag Monday and formally ended its deployment, resurgent Taliban militants launched yet another bloody attack in the country. And with US President Barack Obama allowing American troops to go after both Al Qaeda and Taliban militants in the country into next year, the fighting likely won't be over anytime soon.

"I don't think the war will slow or stop during the winter, as attacks on cities are not contingent on the weather," Afghan political analyst Wahid Muzhdah said. "I believe attacks in the cities will increase they attract media attention."

Monday's ceremony saw the NATO flag of the command folded and put away amid the foreign troop withdrawal. From Jan. 1, the coalition will maintain a force of 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak around 140,000 in 2011. As of Dec. 1, there were some 13, 300 NATO troops in the country.

US Gen. John F. Campbell, commander of NATO and US forces, said foreign troops now will focus on training and supporting local Afghan forces, which have led the fight against the Taliban insurgents since mid-2013.

"The Afghan security forces are capable," Campbell told The Associated Press. "They have to make some changes in the leadership which they're doing, and they have to hold people accountable."

But as local troops stepped up, they now face record-high casualty figures that have risen 6.5 percent this year, to 4,634 killed in action, compared to 4,350 in 2013. By comparison, some 3,500 foreign forces, including at least 2,210 American soldiers, have been killed since the war began in 2001.

President Obama recently allowed American forces to launch operations against both Taliban and Al Qaeda militants, broadening the mission of the US forces that will remain in the country. They also will be permitted to provide combat and air support as necessary, while Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also considers resuming controversial night raids that could see Americans take part.

Up to 10,800 US troops will remain in Afghanistan for the first three months of next year, 1,000 more than previously planned, said a NATO official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss troop deployments. As a result, there will be little, if any, net drop in U.S. troop numbers between now and Dec. 31, when the international combat mission formally ends.

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US, NATO end combat command in Afghanistan

U.S., NATO officially end Afghan combat mission

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KABUL, Afghanistan -- The U.S. and NATO have ceremonially ended their combat mission in Afghanistan, 13 years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks sparked their invasion of the country to topple the Taliban-led government.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, which was in charge of combat operations, lowered its flag Monday, formally ending its deployment.

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U.S. Marines and British forces ended their combat mission in one of Afghanistan's most troubled regions. It happened in Helmand province, where ...

U.S. Gen. John F. Campbell, commander of NATO and U.S. forces, says the mission is transitioning to a training and support role. He says from Jan. 1, the coalition will maintain a force of 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak around 140,000 in 2011.

The mission ends as the Taliban is increasing its attacks. President Obama recently allowed U.S. forces to launch operations against both Taliban and al Qaeda militants amid the training mission.

And an augmentation of the U.S. role in that training mission was announced just days before Monday's ceremony, with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel saying about 1,000 more American troops than initially planned were to remain in Afghanistan beyond the end of the year.

At a news conference with President Ashraf Ghani, Hagel said the original plan to cut U.S. troop levels to 9,800 by the end of 2014 had been abandoned, but not because of the recent surge in Taliban attacks.

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In a ceremony Sunday morning, U.S. Marines and British combat troops officially marked the end of their operations in Afghanistan

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U.S., NATO officially end Afghan combat mission

More militant violence as US, NATO forces mark end of Afghan combat mission

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Dec. 8, 2014 - International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC), Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson, left, folds the flag of IJC during a flag-lowering ceremony at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan. The U.S. and NATO ceremonially ended their combat mission in Afghanistan Monday, 13 years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks sparked their invasion of the country.(AP)

Dec. 8, 2014 - International Security Assistance Forces take part in a ceremony at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan. The U.S. and NATO ceremonially ended their combat mission in Afghanistan Monday, 13 years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks sparked their invasion of the country.(AP)

December 7, 2014: US military forces listen to U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaking at Tactical Base Gamberi in eastern Afghanistan. Hagel was winding up a two day visit, his last to Afghanistan as secretary of defense. (AP Photo/Mark Wilson, Pool)

The U.S. and NATO closed their combat command in Afghanistan on Monday, more than 13 years after invading the country in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks to target al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

Though quickly routing the Taliban-led government that sheltered the militants, the U.S.-led coalition soon found itself spending billions of dollars rebuilding a country devastated by almost 30 years of war while an insurgency grew as the invasion and occupation of Iraq quickly took America's attention.

As NATO's International Security Assistance Force's Joint Command, which was in charge of combat operations, lowered its flag Monday and formally ended its deployment, resurgent Taliban militants launched yet another bloody attack in the country. And with President Barack Obama allowing American troops to go after both al Qaeda and Taliban militants in the country into the next year, the fighting likely won't be over anytime soon.

"I don't think the war will slow or stop during the winter, as attacks on cities are not contingent on the weather," Afghan political analyst Wahid Muzhdah said. "I believe attacks in the cities will increase -- they attract media attention."

Monday's ceremony saw the NATO flag of the command folded and put away amid the foreign troop withdrawal. From Jan. 1, the coalition will maintain a force of 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak around 140,000 in 2011. As of Dec. 1, there were some 13, 300 NATO troops in the country.

U.S. Gen. John F. Campbell, commander of NATO and U.S. forces, said foreign troops now will focus on training and supporting local Afghan forces, which have led the fight against the Taliban insurgents since mid-2013.

"The Afghan security forces are capable," Campbell told The Associated Press. "They have to make some changes in the leadership which they're doing, and they have to hold people accountable."

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More militant violence as US, NATO forces mark end of Afghan combat mission

US, NATO Shut Down Afghan Combat HQ After 13 Years

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Provided by IBT US Obama US combat role Afghanistan

Thirteen years after invading Afghanistan, U.S. and NATO forces have closed their combat headquarters Monday amid fresh attacks in the country from a resurgent Taliban. The first of two ceremonies marked the final month of formal NATO and U.S. combat missions in the country, which will officially cease on Dec. 31.

However, at the request of the Afghan government, U.S. troops will continue to target al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters into 2015 as a force of 13,000 coalition troops remains past the turn of the year. That's less than 10 percent of the 140,000 soldiers at the peak of involvement in 2011.

War operations typically slow down greatly or even cease altogether during the harsh Afghan winters, but the campaign of bombing by the Taliban rather than military attacks on enemy soldiers may keep going this winter. "I don't think the war will slow or stop during the winter, as attacks on cities are not contingent on the weather," Afghan political analyst Wahid Muzhdah said, as quoted by the Associated Press. "I believe attacks in the cities will increase -- they attract media attention."

When U.S. and NATO forces first began combat operations in Afghanistan in October 2001 in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the U.S., the sitting Taliban government and military was quickly beaten back, and U.S.-led coalition forces were able to take over control over much of the country. But as the Iraq war began one and half years later, attention pivoted away from Afghanistan, allowing a militant insurgency operating on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border to grow. That Taliban insurgency is now threatening to beat back the Western troops and the Afghan forces they trained, which risksdestabilizingmuch of what was achieved in the previous 13 years.

To that end, the 10,800 U.S. troops plus NATO allies that will remain in Afghanistan beyond the turn of the year have been authorized to launch attacks against the Taliban and al-Qaeda using ground forces and air support as necessary. New Afghan president Ashraf Ghani has also lifted a ban allowing the U.S. to conduct night raids, something that was not allowed under the previous presidency.

By the end of 2015, U.S. troop presence will be cut in half to 5,500 before hitting near zero by Christmas 2016.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told the AP that the group would continue to fight until Afghanistan was clear of all foreign troops.

"The Americans want to extend their mission in Afghanistan, the motive being to keep the war going for as long as possible," he said. "And for as long as they do, the Taliban will continue their fight against the foreign and (Afghan) government forces."

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US, NATO Shut Down Afghan Combat HQ After 13 Years

Sukhoi Su-34 Russian fighter-bomber ( NATO reporting name: Fullback) – Video

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Sukhoi Su-34 Russian fighter-bomber ( NATO reporting name: Fullback)
Sukhoi Su-34 Russian fighter-bomber (export designation: Su-32, NATO reporting name: Fullback) is a Russian twin-seat fighter-bomber. It is intended to replace the Sukhoi Su-24. More videos:https:/...

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Sukhoi Su-34 Russian fighter-bomber ( NATO reporting name: Fullback) - Video


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