Canada ends Afghan combat mission
Canada has formally ended its combat mission in Afghanistan after years of being on the front lines of the fight against Taliban insurgents in the south.
Canada is the sixth largest troop-contributing nation.
While 2,850 Canadian combat troops are going home, 950 others are heading into the country to help train Afghan security forces.
Canada transferred its mission to the US at Kandahar Air Field during a ceremony on Thursday held in a hall decorated with Canadian maple leaf flags.
After remarks, handshakes and the exchange of military paperwork, troops held a moment of silence for their fallen comrades. Since 2002, 157 Canadian troops have been killed in Afghanistan.