Afghanistan’s territory and its last bastion – the Kabul airport – has been left by the last plane, ending the withdrawal of US forces from the South Asian country. American forces and following them US NATO and other allies have spent there close to 20 years. The evacuation operation of Western troops, diplomats and allied Afghan civilians has also been ended, American news agency AP reports.
Shortly before US President Joe Biden’s August 31 deadline for shutting down a final airlift, and thus ending the US war, American Air Force transport planes carried a remaining contingent of troops from Kabul airport late on Monday, August 30. Thousands of military personnel had spent a harrowing two weeks protecting the airlift of tens of thousands of Afghans, Americans and others seeking to escape a country once again ruled by Taliban militants.
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To announce the completion of the evacuation and war effort US army Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said the last planes took off from Kabul airport or one minute before midnight in Kabul.
After the evacuation of more than 100 000 civilians in the last 17 days, Biden noted that US military commanders unanimously favoured ending the airlift, not extending it. The US President has ordered US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to coordinate with international partners so that Afghanistan’s new rulers, the Taliban group, would hold their promise of safe passage for Americans and others who want to leave in the next days, AP reports.
20-year war is over. Last US soldier leaves Kabul as frantic evacuation operation ends
