Central Coast News KION/KCBASecretary of Defense Leon Panetta Says Combat Mission in Afghanistan to End Next Year

BELGIUM - Monterey County native and Secretary of Defense Leon Paneta says combat mission in Afghanistan will end next year.

According to CNN, the United States and NATO will end their combat mission in Afghanistan next year, transitioning to a training role, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said.

"Hopefully, by mid to the latter part of 2013, we'll be able to make a transition from a combat role to a training, advise and assist role," Panetta told reporters traveling with him to Belgium.

The information was confirmed to CNN by a defense official.