U.S. Troops Leave Afghanistan Ending the America’s Longest War

It was announced yesterday that all U.S. military planes have left Afghanistan ending the United States’ longest war. President Biden is expected to address the nation about Afghanistan today as evacuations in the country still aren’t finished. According to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, as of yesterday, more than 122,000 people in total have been airlifted from the Hamid Karzai International Airport since last month. According to General Frank McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, there were no U.S. citizens on the last five flights out of Kabul and no evacuees were left at the airport when the last two U.S. officials stepped off Afghan soil.

Last night, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the U.S.’ work in Afghanistan is not over yet and that the Biden administration’s commitment to help Americans, U.S. legal permanent residents and Afghans leave the country will continue. The U.S. will move it’s diplomatic presence in Afghanistan to Doha, Qatar and according to Blinken, the State Department will help Americans leave Afghanistan no matter when they make the decision to do so. He added “our commitment to them, and to all Americans in Afghanistan, and everywhere in the world, continues.”