Britain, along with U.S., withdraws troops from Afghanistan

Fearing civil war, Britain has withdrawn most of its troops from Afghanistan following a nearly 20 year deployment, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Britain lost 457 soldiers killed in Afghanistan, after sending troops as part of a multi-country force following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

British forces played a major role in combat operations until 2014.

"All British troops assigned to NATO's mission in Afghanistan are now returning home," Johnson said in a statement to parliament.

"For obvious reasons, I will not disclose the timetable of our departure, though I can tell the house that most of our personnel have already left."

Since the United States announced a date for the final troops to leave Afghanistan, violence has raged throughout Afghanistan.

The Pentagon has said that 90 percent of its troops have left Afghanistan and Bagram air base, the staging ground for U.S. military operations, no longer houses American troops.

Johnson also said Britain would continue to provide development assistance.

"I hope no one will leap to the false conclusion that the withdrawal of our forces somehow means the end of Britain's commitment to Afghanistan. We are not about to turn away, nor are we under any illusions about the perils of today situation and what might lie ahead," Johnson told parliament.

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