The U.S. has returned the last of the 33,000 additional troops President Barack Obama committed to Afghanistan in 2009, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced Friday.
During a press conference in New Zealand, Panetta said that the surge was successful in helping build Afghan security forces and ultimately shifted momentum from Taliban forces.
The drawdown leaves Afghanistan with 68,000 U.S. soldiers and approximately 30,000 soldiers from other ISAF nations.
Coalition forces are scheduled to transfer security responsibilities to the Afghans in 2014.
