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U.S. Marines, British Troops Officially Hand Over Last Afghan Bases


U.S. Marines lower their flag during a handover ceremony in Helmand on October 26, 2014
U.S. Marines lower their flag during a handover ceremony in Helmand on October 26, 2014

U.S. Marines and British combat forces in southern Afghanistan have handed over a massive military base to the control of Afghan security forces.

Camp Leatherneck, a U.S. military base in the strategic southern province of Helmand, was transferred to the Afghan military on October 26.

It is the largest U.S. military base to be handed over to Afghan control as the coalition combat mission ends on December 31.

The handover ends U.S. Marine combat operations in the country.

Camp Bastion, the adjoining British base, has also been handed over to Afghan control.

It was the last U.K. military base in Afghanistan.

After the withdrawal, the Afghan National Army's 215th Corps will be stationed at the base, leaving almost no foreign military presence in Helmand.

A bilateral security agreement signed in September, will allow nearly 10,000 U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, and BBC
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