On this day in military history…
On 28 December 2014, a quiet ceremony at NATO headquarters in Kabul formally marked the end of the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force combat mission and the handover of primary security responsibility to the Afghan National Security Forces. The event was deliberately low-key, reflecting ongoing security threats in the capital and the reality that, although the formal combat role of foreign forces was ending, the conflict itself had not been resolved. The moment symbolised the close of a long chapter rather than a decisive victory.
During the ceremony, the ISAF flag was folded and cased, and preparations were made for the start of a new, smaller mission known as Resolute Support, due to begin on 1 January 2015. This follow-on mission was designed to focus on training, advising, and assisting Afghan forces rather than leading combat operations. For the first time since the U.S.-led invasion in late 2001, Afghan forces were officially recognised as being in charge of security operations across the country.
The handover marked the conclusion of nearly 14 years of American military dominance in Afghanistan, though the United States continued to play a significant advisory and counterterrorism role afterward. What ended in December 2014 was large-scale, foreign-led combat and direct operational control. This distinction is important, as it reflects how the war transitioned rather than simply stopped.
The scale of the international effort that wound down in 2014 was enormous. At its peak, ISAF involved more than 130,000 troops from 50 NATO and partner countries, making it one of the largest multinational military coalitions in modern history. Countries from Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond contributed personnel, equipment, and funding. The wide international participation meant that the handover carried global political significance, not just implications for Afghanistan and the United States.
The human cost of the mission was substantial. By the end of 2014, the United States had lost 2,219 service members in Afghanistan, with more than 20,000 wounded in action. Across the entire coalition, total military deaths reached approximately 3,485. These losses weighed heavily on public opinion in many contributing nations and were a major factor behind the decision to end the combat mission once Afghan forces were deemed capable of taking the lead.
Afghan losses were even more severe. As the handover approached, Afghan soldiers and police were sustaining rising casualties as they assumed greater responsibility for fighting the Taliban and other insurgent groups. Civilian suffering also intensified, with 2014 becoming one of the deadliest years on record for Afghan civilians at that time. This context explains why the ceremony marking the end of foreign combat operations was restrained rather than celebratory.
In the end, the formal handover on 28 December 2014 represented a turning point rather than a conclusion.
