The last US C-17 cargo plane left Afghanistan with US troops and the remaining core diplomatic staff, ending a tense evacuation mission and a 20-year war in Afghanistan, Commander of US Central Command, Gen. Frank McKenzie announced at the Pentagon.
General McKenzie said in total they had evacuated more than 123,000 civilians, the “vast majority of those who wanted to go,” he said.
He added: “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 September 11, 2001.
“It’s a mission that brought Osama Bin Laden to justice, along with many of his al-Qaeda co-conspirators, and it was not a cheap mission. The cost was 2,461 US service members and civilians killed, and more than 20,000 were injured. Sadly, that includes 13 US service members who were killed last week by an Isis-K suicide bomber.
“We honor their sacrifice today, as we remember their heroic accomplishments. No words from me could possibly capture the full measure of sacrifices and accomplishments of those who serve, nor the emotions they’re feeling at this moment.”
He added: “Your service, as well as that of your comrades and family members, will never be forgotten.”
The general added that efforts will continue to help those left behind by the airlift. He said: “The military phase of this operation has ended, the diplomatic sequel to that will now begin. And I believe our Department of State is going to work very hard to help any American citizens that are left.”
While the Taliban have already seized vast quantities of US equipment during their takeover of Afghanistan, General McKenzie said that the remaining military infrastructure at the airport was intentionally destroyed prior to the US departure.
He said: “We demilitarised equipment that we did not bring out. That includes up to 70 Mraps (armored vehicles) that we demilitarised and will never be used again by anyone, 27 Humvees that will never be driven again, and 73 aircraft that will never fly again.”
However, he said the infrastructure needed to operate the airport had been left in place “to allow the airport to get back and get operating as soon as possible” for civilians as the Taliban take over the site.
The U.S and about 100 countries issued a joint statement Sunday saying they had received assurance from the Taliban that all foreign nationals and any Afghan citizen with travel authorization from host countries will be allowed to proceed in a safe and orderly manner to points of departure and travel outside the country.
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