French combat troops leave Afghanistan

The last unit of French combat troops left Afghanistan today (Saturday 15th December 2012). Approximately 200 troops from the 25th Infantry Regiment, departed early afternoon. They had been responsible for overseeing the French withdrawal.

88 French military personnel have died during combat missions in the country since 2004. Click here for the list of French fallen.

Their departure means France has around 1,500 non-combat troops left in Afghanistan, most of them based in Kabul. They are due to stay into 2013 to take responsibility for repatriating equipment and training the Afghan army to take over.

After that, only a couple of hundred French soldiers involved in cooperation or training missions will remain in Afghanistan.

Click here for the full story at France24