US, NATO end Afghan combat command after 13 years
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 September 11 terror attacks to target al-Qaida 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-Qaida and Taliban militants in the country into next year, the fighting likely won't be over anytime soon.
