The War in Afghanistan By the Numbers Putting today's announcement about troops in Afghanistan into context.

 -- Today's announcement that more American troops will be staying in Afghanistan longer than expected effectively extended the war that President Obama had hoped to end during his administration.

Cited as reasons for the major policy change were the renewed presence of the Taliban in certain areas of the country, like the city of Kunduz, the need to continue targeting the terrorist threat posed by al Qaeda and ISIS, as well as continuing to provide specialized training for Afghanistan’s security forces.

Here's a look back at America's involvement in Afghanistan since the start of the war and how the U.S. military's presence has changed over time.