U.S. Marines and British combat forces end Afghan operations

The American and British flags were lowered and folded for the final time at Camp Bastion on Sunday, 13 years after the toppling of the Taliban’s radical Islamist regime launched America’s longest war. The last U.S. Marines unit and final British combat troops in Afghanistan have officially ended their operations and are packing up to leave the country. The regional headquarters of the international military, a massive military base, will be handed to the Afghan military to continue the fight against a resilient Taliban insurgency.

I’m cautiously optimistic they will be able to sustain themselves. They’ve got to want it more than we do.

Brig. Gen Daniel Yoo, the commander of Regional Command (Southwest)

The most recent official estimate of combined international troops at the base was 4,500 – and those last few will be gone soon, officials said. After the withdrawal, the Afghan National Army’s 215th Corps will be headquartered at the 6,500-acre base, leaving almost no foreign military presence in Helmand. The province has seen fierce fighting this year, with Taliban and allied forces seeking to seize the district of Sangin from Afghan army and police. Officials with the U.S.-led coalition say the Afghan forces held their own this summer fighting season and did not lose any significant ground.

The guys right now are mostly looking forward to getting home. It’s been a long hot summer.

Lt. John Pratson, 24, of Leonardtown, Maryland

Middle East Camp Bastion