8/31/21 - Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal Marks End of America’s Longest War

President Biden will address the nation on his decision not to extend America’s presence in Afghanistan on Tuesday, the day of his deadline to withdraw all troops.

Aug. 31 will mark the end of the longest war in U.S. history.

On Monday, the Pentagon confirmed the last U.S. military planes left the country.

It comes just a few days after 13 service members were killed in a suicide bombing attack outside Kabul’s international airport as troops worked to evacuate people from the area.

The Pentagon says since July, 122,000 people have been evacuated.

Up to 200 Americans who wanted to leave are still there.  Thousands of Afghans who worked with Americans were also unable to get out and many of them could not make it to the airport in time.

Marine Corps General Kenneth McKenzie said that while the military effort to get people out of Afghanistan is over, diplomatic efforts to evacuate people who want to leave will continue. 

The U.S. went to war following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, going after Osama Bin Laden.  He was killed in Pakistan in 2011.

Nearly 2,500 service members were killed over 20 years, including 13 last week.