Spanish troops to withdraw from last post in Afghanistan

FOURTEEN years since their mission started, Spanish troops are to be withdrawn form Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

The remaining 420 military personnel stationed in Herat, near the border with Iran, will return home before the end of October.

Their withdrawal will leave the Spanish military presence in Afghanistan, which once numbered more than 1,500 people, whittled down to just 20 officials who are assigned to the NATO headquarters in the capital Kabul.

Spain assumed control of the base in Herat in 2005, and have been supporting the development of Afghan forces there, handing over the running of the post in 2013.

Over the course of their presence in the country, 99 Spanish armed forces members have been killed, as were two interpreters working with them. The operation has cost around €3.7 billion, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais.