Obama: Afghanistan combat mission ends later this year

President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the United States is finishing the job it started in Afghanistan.

In fact, Mr. Obama said he will seek to bring the U.S. force in Afghanistan down to 9,800 as the American combat mission ends later this year.

The president also said he intends to withdraw most of those forces by the end of 2016.

Obama said from the Rose Garden, "This is the year we will conclude our combat mission in Afghanistan."

Obama said U.S. troops have been in Afghanistan longer than many Americans expected. He said the forces have struck significant blows against al-Qaida's leadership, eliminated Osama bin Laden and prevented Afghanistan from being used as a base against the U.S.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.