British troops and the U.S. Marines ended their combat operations in Helmand, Afghanistan as they handed the last two bases over to the Afghanistan military on Sunday after 13 years of a U.S.-led battle with the Taliban.

The U.S. Camp Leatherneck and Britain Camp Bastion lowered their American and British flags for the last time but did not specify when the troops will leave the area for security purposes.

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However, on Sunday, the base where Camp Leatherneck stayed was already empty and everything that was once contained in the area has been stripped down. Camp Leatherneck is the largest U.S. base to be handed over to the Afghanistan military.

Both camps totaled to over 40,000 military personnel and civilian contractors. The Afghan National Army's 215^th Corps is said to be headquartered at the said bases.

The U.S. military will reportedly leave at least US$230 million worth of equipment and property. The Afghan military will use the money for roads, buildings and a major airstrip.

According to Col. Doug Patterson, a commander in the Marine brigade who is in charge of logistics, they already have the the maps of the base and the keys.

As for the British troops, British Defense Minister Michael Fallon told BBC that they were able to strengthen the Afghan military and helped Afghanistan by giving the people the "best possible chance of a stable future".

Due to this, the newly installed president Ashraf Ghani would have to deal with a much stronger insurgency led by the Taliban. The Ghani regime will reportedl fight the militants without any aid from foreign troops.

Just this year, fierce battles between the troops and the Taliban erupted as the latter sought to seize Sangin from the Afghan forces, stirring doubts about the security forces' ability to ward off the militants and their growing allied forces.

Brig. Gen Daniel Yoo, the commander of the Southwest Regional Command, said he is optimistic that the Afghan forces will be able to defend their people. He pressed the security forces should depend on leadership, continued development of logistics as well as confidence.

Although foreign forces have been pulled out from the bases, there will still be little forces that will remain next year to provide intelligence and air support.

The 13-year anti-Taliban coalition sustained 2,210 deaths among American soldiers and 453 deaths from the British troops from the said war. The fight to dismantle the Taliban government began in 2001 following the 9/11 attack on the United States.

TagsU.S Marines, British Troops, Afghanistan, army bases, foreign troops pull out