President Barack Obama announced on Sunday, Dec. 28, that the 13-year war in Afghanistan is officially over, reported NBC News. A ceremony was held in Kabul to symbolize what the president referred to as a "responsible conclusion."
According to Military Times, the ceremony was an exclusive event, with only hand-picked officials present. The International Security Assistance Force's green-and-white flag was taken down, rolled and sheathed. It was then replaced by a new banner meant to represent Resolute Support, the new international mission currently in place in the nation.
Speeches were given, mostly commemorating those whose lives were lost during the war. NBC reported that 2,200 U.S. troops were killed since the fighting began in 2001. Approximately 10,000 civilians lost their lives, while 5,000 Afghan soldiers died this year alone. Military Times noted that U.S. Gen. John Campbell, the current commander of ISAF, gave a speech in memory of the nearly 4,000 international troops who perished during the war as well.
"Thanks to the extraordinary sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, our combat mission in Afghanistan is ending, and the longest war in American history is coming to a responsible conclusion," President Obama said in a release.