Last of US troops sent by Obama withdrawn from Afghanistan

The Pentagon said that the last of 33,000 extra US soldiers sent by President Barack Obama to Afghanistan more than three years ago have left the country.

 The soldiers had been sent to Afghanistan with the intent of pushing back the Taliban and handing over security to Afghan government forces.

Due to increasing insider attacks by Afghan soldiers and police, around 68,000 US service personnel remained in an attempt to reduce violence.

Five members of the same Afghan family were killed by a roadside device which exploded under their car. Two woman, two girls under the age of eight and a man were killed.

The withdrawal of US troops was announced by US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta insisting that the surge was successful in forcing the Taliban back and damaging its al-Qaeda allies.

Panetta said that the transition to Afghan security controls was also on track and is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.