U.S., NATO ceremonially end Afghan combat mission

WASHINGTON — The United States and NATO formally ended their combat mission in Afghanistan on Monday, switching to advising and assisting Afghan forces responsible for the fight against the Taliban.

Coalition and Afghan forces marked the change in a ceremony in Afghanistan that including folding and putting away the NATO flag of the command.

The move comes more than 13 years after the United States invaded Afghanistan to target al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden, in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

The United States will leave a residual force of about 10,000 troops, down from a peak of about 100,000 in 2010 and 2011. Coalition countries will contribute several thousand troops to the residual force.

The Pentagon has said Afghan forces are capable of keeping the country secure.

"The insurgents have been beaten back, and the Afghan national security forces are taking the fight to the enemy," Army Gen. Joseph Anderson said at the ceremony, which marked the end of mission for the International Joint Command.

Afghan forces have suffered heavy casualties as Taliban militants ramped up pressure before the American withdrawal from the country.

Last month, the coalition said 4,634 Afghan security troops were killed in action this year, up from 4,350 last year.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the Associated Press the group would continue to fight "until all foreign troops have left Afghanistan."

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