Britain will withdraw an extra 500 soldiers from Afghanistan next year, bringing the UK troop level down to 9,000 as Western governments begin to transfer security responsibilities to Afghan forces, Reuters reported. "I have already said we will withdraw 426 UK military personnel by February 2012 and today I can announce that the UK will be able to reduce its force levels by a further 500 from 9,500 to 9,000 by the end of 2012," Cameron told parliament. Britain plans to withdraw all combat troops by the end of 2014, leaving a training and mentoring force to help Afghan soldiers.
