WASHINGTON (AP) — The No. 2 U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Wednesday that U.S. military advisory teams will start deploying to Afghanistan this year to help Afghan combat forces as they take a more prominent role in fighting the Taliban.

The plan as described by Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti is for U.S. and other international troops to begin stepping back from their leading role, so that responsibility for the war is fully in Afghan hands by the end of 2014.