The longest war in U.S. history is finally over. After more than two decades, the United States has fully withdrawn from Afghanistan. “It’s a mission that brought Osama bin Laden to a just end along with many of his al-Qaeda co-conspirators and it was not a cheap mission,” said General Kenneth McKenzie of U.S. Central Command. “The cost was 2,461 U.S. service members and civilians killed — and more than 20,000 who were injured.”
The U.S. military conducted what it calls its largest non-combatant evacuation in history over the last 18 days. “More than 123,000 people have been safely flown out of Afghanistan,” said Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. “That includes about 6,000 American citizens.”
Despite historical efforts, U.S. authorities weren’t able to get everybody out. However, the United Nations Security Council has approved a resolution allowing creating “safe passage” for anyone seeking to leave Afghanistan from the Kabul airport.
President Biden is scheduled to address the nation later tonight about the end of the war in Afghanistan.