Final military flights leave Kabul
Source: Washington Post
The U.S. military flew its final evacuation flight out of Afghanistan on Monday, pulling out all U.S. diplomats and military personnel and bringing an end to America's longest war, the Pentagon said. The departure caps a chaotic withdrawal that was rushed by the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country and scarred by a deadly suicide attack that killed 13 U.S. service members and scores of Afghans on Thursday and a drone strike on alleged Islamic State fighters on Sunday that also killed several children, according to surviving family members.
"Tonight's withdrawal signifies both the end of the military component of the evacuation but also the end of the nearly 20 year mission that began in Afghanistan shortly after Sept. 11, 2001," said Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command. More than 122,000 people were evacuated since Aug. 14, amounting to one of the largest airlifts in history, but the deteriorating security situation and pandemonium at the airport resulted in thousands of Afghan allies and fewer than 250 Americans being left behind, said a senior State Department official.
Efforts to assist people hoping to escape the Taliban's rule grew more urgent as renewed militant threats left Afghans largely shut out of evacuation flights. Rockets were fired at the airport Sunday night in a bloodless attack the Islamic State later claimed responsibility for. The full evacuation of U.S. diplomats underscored the dangerous environment U.S. forces left behind just weeks after State Department spokesman Ned Price announced on Aug. 12 that the U.S. Embassy would remain open and its staff would "continue our diplomatic work in Afghanistan."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken was expected to provide remarks later Monday on the future of U.S. diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and efforts to help Americans and Afghan allies still seeking to get out of the country.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/30/afghanistan-kabul-taliban-live-updates/#link-JRH5AABHNZH53I563HIB5FGQ3M
Statement by President Biden (he will also address the nation tomorrow - August 31st) -
Link to tweet
TEXT
@POTUS
United States government official
The past 17 days have seen our troops execute the largest airlift in US history. They have done it with unmatched courage, professionalism, and resolve. Now, our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan has ended.
My full statement:
Statement by President Joe Biden | The White House
I want to thank our commanders and the men and women serving under them for their execution of the dangerous retrograde from Afghanistan as scheduled – in the early morning hours of August 31st,...
whitehouse.gov
6:05 PM · Aug 30, 2021
Link to full statement - https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/30/statement-by-president-joe-biden/
Statement by President Joe Biden
August 30, 2021 • Statements and Releases
I want to thank our commanders and the men and women serving under them for their execution of the dangerous retrograde from Afghanistan as scheduled – in the early morning hours of August 31, Kabul time – with no further loss of American lives. The past 17 days have seen our troops execute the largest airlift in US history, evacuating over 120,000 US citizens, citizens of our allies, and Afghan allies of the United States. They have done it with unmatched courage, professionalism, and resolve. Now, our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan has ended.
Tomorrow afternoon, I will address the American people on my decision not to extend our presence in Afghanistan beyond August 31. For now, I will report that it was the unanimous recommendation of the Joint Chiefs and of all of our commanders on the ground to end our airlift mission as planned. Their view was that ending our military mission was the best way to protect the lives of our troops, and secure the prospects of civilian departures for those who want to leave Afghanistan in the weeks and months ahead.
I have asked the Secretary of State to lead the continued coordination with our international partners to ensure safe passage for any Americans, Afghan partners, and foreign nationals who want to leave Afghanistan. This will include work to build on the UN Security Council Resolution passed this afternoon that sent the clear message of what the international community expects the Taliban to deliver on moving forward, notably freedom of travel. The Taliban has made commitments on safe passage and the world will hold them to their commitments. It will include ongoing diplomacy in Afghanistan and coordination with partners in the region to reopen the airport allowing for continued departure for those who want to leave and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
For now, I urge all Americans to join me in grateful prayer tonight for three things. First, for our troops and diplomats who carried out this mission of mercy in Kabul and at tremendous risk with such unparalleled results: an airlift that evacuated tens of thousands more people than any imagined possible. Second, to the network of volunteers and veterans who helped identify those needing evacuation, guide them to the airport, and provide support along the way. And third, to everyone who is now – and who will – welcome our Afghan allies to their new homes around the world, and in the United States.
Finally, I want to end with a moment of gratitude for the sacrifice of the 13 service members in Afghanistan who gave their lives last week to save tens of thousands: Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.
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Original article/headline and link -
The Pentagon said Monday that the United States had pulled out the last of its troops, and that the evacuation operation at Kabul's international airport had ended. The departure caps a chaotic withdrawal that was rushed by the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country and scarred by a deadly suicide attack that killed 13 U.S. service members and scores of Afghans.
More than 120,000 people had been evacuated since Aug. 14, amounting to one of the largest airlifts in history, but the deteriorating security situation and chaos at the airport resulted in some Americans and thousands of Afghan allies being left behind. Earlier Monday, family members told The Washington Post that 10 civilians were killed by a U.S. drone strike in Kabul Sunday, including several small children,.
The drone strike was targeting the Islamic State-Khorasan, the group's offshoot in Afghanistan. The civilians who were killed were all from a single extended family and were getting out of a car in their driveway when the strike hit a nearby vehicle. The Taliban has agreed to allow foreign nationals and Afghans with relevant travel documents to leave the country safely after the international rescue mission ends Tuesday, the United States and dozens of other countries said Sunday.
U.S. Central Command said the strike Sunday destroyed an ISIS-K car bomb that posed an "imminent" threat to Kabul's airport. The command said in a statement that it was "aware of reports of civilian casualties," adding: "We would be deeply saddened by any potential loss of innocent life." This was the second U.S. drone strike in response to a suicide bombing and gunfire attack outside Kabul's airport Thursday that killed 13 U.S. troops and more than 170 civilians trying to flee the country.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/30/afghanistan-kabul-taliban-live-updates/
= new reply since forum marked as read
The loss of 13 US soldiers (and way too many civilians) due to a cowardly terrorist attack notwithstanding, Biden's operation sounds like an incredible success in the end.
Or will we repeat our mistakes? 
I have waited for this for 20 years. General Donahue and the American Ambassador were on the last plane. I am half Donahue!
Was looking for one that had the whole thing and that one came up. 
I wasn't easy, but you followed through, and got us out of that wretched place.
K&R