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President Obama marked the end of Americas longest-ever war Sunday by praising Americans who died in the post-9/11 mission in Afghanistan and trumpeting his efforts to bring troops home, even as he committed to leaving a limited military presence to hand over the bulk of the fight against the Taliban to Afghan forces.

For more than 13 years, ever since nearly 3,000 innocent lives were taken from us on 9/11, our nation has been at war in Afghanistan, Mr. Obama said in a statement released by the White House. Now, thanks to the extraordinary sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, our combat mission in Afghanistan is ending, and the longest war in American history is coming to a responsible conclusion.

His remarks coincided with a ceremony in the Afghan capital of Kabul to mark the official end of the mission. In front of a small, hand-picked audience at the headquarters of the NATO mission, the green-and-white flag of the International Security Assistance Force was ceremonially rolled up and sheathed, and the flag of the new international mission called Resolute Support was hoisted.

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U.S. Gen. John Campbell, commander of ISAF, commemorated the 3,500 international soldiers killed on Afghan battlefields and praised the countrys army for giving him confidence that they are able to take on the fight alone.

Resolute Support will serve as the bedrock of an enduring partnership between NATO and Afghanistan, Gen. Campbell told an audience of Afghan and international military officers and officials, as well as diplomats and journalists.

The road before us remains challenging, but we will triumph, he added.

Beginning Jan. 1, the new mission will provide training and support for Afghanistans military, with the U.S. accounting for almost 11,000 of the 13,500 members of the residual force.

On Sunday, the Pentagon said the U.S. segment of the mission would be known as Operation Freedoms Sentinel.

Our personnel will continue to face risks, but this reflects the enduring commitment of the United States to the Afghan people and to a united, secure and sovereign Afghanistan that is never again used as a source of attacks against our nation, Mr. Obama said.

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Obama marks end of Afghan mission as 'milestone'