The International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, was a NATO-led mission established in 2001 to help stabilize Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban regime. Its primary goal was to assist the Afghan government in maintaining security and rebuilding the country after years of conflict. ISAF operated under a United Nations mandate and involved troops from various countries, working together to train Afghan security forces and support reconstruction efforts. The mission officially ended in December 2014, transitioning responsibilities to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, although some NATO forces remained for training and support.