Video: Philip Hammond extends tours for British troops in Afghanistan Philip Hammond has announce that from September, some soldiers will serve up to nine months instead of the usual six months. The new timetable will mean only two more brigades will be needed before British troops are expected to withdraw next year. The British presence will be almost halved by the end of this year to 5,200 and all combat operations in the country should be over by the end of 2014, leaving Afghan forces in control. The UK has pulled out of 25 of its 37 major bases in Helmand, while dozens of smaller checkpoints and patrol bases are also being handed over to Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). The plan is to leave as little as possible behind, with a major operation to airlift thousands of tonnes of military equipment already underway. The redeployment effort will see everything from nuts and bolts to helicopters and armoured vehicles returned to the UK.