The Pentagon has announced that the final batch of 33,000 U.S. troops that President Barack Obama sent to Afghanistan as part of Surge Forces has returned home on schedule after successfully completing their mission.
"This week, the ongoing effort in Afghanistan marked an important milestone: the United States military has completed drawing down the surge forces President Obama committed in December of 2009, reducing our presence by 33,000 troops on schedule," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in a statement.
"As we reflect on this moment, it is an opportunity to recognize that the surge accomplished its objectives of reversing Taliban momentum on the battlefield, and dramatically increased the size and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). This growth has allowed us and our ISAF Coalition partners to begin the process of transition to Afghan security lead, which will soon extend across every province and more than 75 percent of the Afghan population," Panetta added.
He claimed that the joint forces "have struck enormous blows against al-Qaeda's leadership, consistent with our core goal of disrupting, dismantling and defeating al-Qaeda and denying it a safe-haven."
The Pentagon chief underscored that "even as our surge troops return home, there are roughly 68,000 Americans who remain in a tough fight in Afghanistan, alongside their NATO and Afghan partners. We are a nation at war. But the international community is also strongly united behind our shared strategy to transition to Afghan security control, which will be completed by the end of 2014."
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