Obama had said that under the security agreement , virtually all U.S. forces would be out of Afghanistan by the end of 2016 , shortly before his presidency ends . The New York Times : Obama decides to extend U.S. combat role in Afghanistan . Previously , the President had said combat operations would end in 2014 . Official tells CNN that U.S. troops will `` continue to engage in operations in self-defense '' Operation Enduring Freedom website says they are engaged in a variety of missions including counterterrorism and training Afghan forces.
The New York Times : Obama decides to extend U.S. combat role in Afghanistan . Previously , the President had said combat operations would end in 2014 . Official tells CNN that U.S. troops will `` continue to engage in operations in self-defense '' Operation Enduring Freedom website says they are engaged in a variety of missions including counterterrorism and training Afghan forces.