Stars and Stripes reports that “the U.S. and NATO formally transitioned Sunday to a new “non-combat mission in a combat environment” whose definition remains as unclear as Afghanistan’s future, now that the bulk of foreign forces have left.”  

“During an hour-long ceremony in a drab gymnasium at the headquarters of the military coalition that has battled against insurgents for 13 years, generals hailed the end of a mission, while struggling to explain the parameters of what will still be a substantial military operation in Afghanistan.”  

“’Today marks an end of an era and the beginning of a new one,’ ISAF commander Gen. John Campbell said at the ceremony. ‘Today NATO ends its combat mission.’”