After 13-year Afghan war, final British combat troops leave Helmand province

Combat operations in key Afghan province come to an end

Jennifer Griffin reports from Washington, D.C.

LONDON – Britain's defense ministry says the last U.K. combat troops have left Afghanistan's Helmand province, ending a 13-year war that cost more than 450 British lives.

The Ministry of Defense says the final troops left Camp Bastion in helicopters and transport planes Monday, a day after the base was handed over to Afghan forces.

Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said British force "leave with our heads held high."

But many Britons question how much has been achieved by the conflict.

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said the "heavy price ... does not justify the heavy loss of lives."

At the peak of the deployment there were more than 10,000 British personnel in Afghanistan, most in Helmand, a Taliban stronghold.