Last American Military Plane Leaves Afghanistan, Ending 20-Year War: General

US soldiers walk through the tarmac to board an US Air Force aircraft at the airport in Kabul on August 30, 2021. - Rockets were fired at Kabul's airport on August 30 where US troops were racing to complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan and evacuate allies under the threat of Islamic State group attacks. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images

The United States officially has ended its military presence in Afghanistan with the final U.S. military flight out of Kabul, concluding 20 years of American involvement after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) head Gen. Frank McKenzie said during a televised address that the last C-17 military plane cleared Afghan airspace after lifting off at around 3:29 p.m. ET Aug. 30. That came hours before President Joe Biden’s Aug. 31 deadline for shutting down the final airlift.