Taliban fighters stand guard along a road near the site of an Ashura procession which is held to mark the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, along a road in Herat on August 19, 2021, amid the Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan. (Photo by AREF KARIMI / AFP)
The US military announced the departure of the last US troops from Afghanistan Monday, concluding a 20-year conflict that ended with the Taliban seizing control of the country.
“I’m here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Central Command Commander General Kenneth McKenzie said.
The sound of gunfire was heard across Kabul early Tuesday after the US military confirmed the last US troops had left Afghanistan, ending a 20-year war.
AFP correspondents in the city heard celebratory gunfire from several known Taliban checkpoints, as well as the cheers of fighters manning security posts in the green zone.
The United States believes there are fewer than 250 Americans still in Afghanistan who are seeking to leave, a senior US official said Monday on the eve of the deadline for a full US troop withdrawal from the country.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that fewer than 300 Americans remained in Afghanistan who were seeking to be evacuated.
The US official said Monday that the number is believed to be “below 250.”
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“We believe there’s still a small number who remain, and we’re trying to determine exactly how many,” said the official, who requested anonymity.
“Of those who self-identified as Americans in Afghanistan considering leaving the country since August 14, we thus far have received confirmation that about 6,000 have been evacuated, or otherwise departed, meaning they traveled commercially,” the official said.
President Joe Biden has set a deadline of August 31 for a full US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The Pentagon said Monday that more than 122,000 people, including 5,400 Americans, have been evacuated since July.
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