In a policy shift , President Barack Obama has decided to extend the combat role of U.S. forces in Afghanistan into 2015 , allowing troops to keep fighting the Taliban and other militant groups that threaten American soldiers or the Afghan government , The New York Times reported . Back in May , the President described an exit strategy that called for an end to U.S. combat operations and the withdrawal of the U.S.-led international military force by the end of 2014 . While not confirming the article , a senior administration official told CNN the change is more about force protection designed to protect U.S. personnel in Afghanistan . `` We will no longer target belligerents solely because they are members of the Taliban , '' the official said . `` To the extent that Taliban members directly threaten the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan or provide direct support to al Qaeda , we will take appropriate measures to keep Americans safe . '' The policy shift apparently will not affect the number of American troops in Afghanistan . The Times said that half the 9,800 troops would leave by the end of next year . The Times said the new presidential action will allow American planes and drones to support Afghan troops in combat . The official told CNN that `` the United States may provide combat enabler support to the [ Afghan National Security Forces ] in limited circumstances to prevent detrimental strategic effects to these Afghan security forces . '' The United States has had troops in Afghanistan for 13 years , following the terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001 . The website for Operation Enduring Freedom says 2,351 American soldiers have died in the conflict , along with 453 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 675 from other nations . The Times said two factors affected Obama 's decision : the poor performance of Iraqi troops as ISIS advances across Iraq and the election of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani , who welcomes an extended U.S. role more than his predecessor , Hamid Karzai . After Ghani 's election , Afghanistan and the United States signed a security agreement that allows U.S. troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the previous December deadline to withdraw . 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 . He had called for 9,800 U.S. troops to stay there after the end of 2014 . The number would get cut roughly in half by the end of 2015 , and a year later , the U.S. military presence would scale down to what officials described as a `` normal '' embassy security contingent . The administration official told CNN : `` Safety of our personnel is the president 's first priority and our armed forces will continue to engage in operations in self-defense and in support of Afghan Security 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.