War is over: final U.S troops depart Afghanistan

The war is officially over, with officials confirming that the last US military planes have officially departed from Kabul’s major international airport just moments ago

The departure marks the end of an intense battle between the United States and Taliban militants, and it is the first time US troops haven’t been on the ground in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the public following the announcement and says this marks “a new chapter of America’s engagement with Afghanistan”

Blinken says 123,000 people were safely evacuated from Afghanistan.

Around $2 trillion was spent on the war and almost 2,000 American soldiers were killed in action as a result.

This follows the State Department saying that US civilians will not remain on the ground in Afghanistan once the troops have departed.

It’s expected that the US Embassy will also close its doors for good… but officials have also confirmed that this does not mean they are “suspending any commitments to American citizens in Afghanistan, to at risk Afghans, to the Afghan people.”

General Kenneth McKenzie made the announcement earlier today, saying the last C17 took off at 3:30pm East Coast Time