Final Plane Leaves Afghanistan As Longest American War Ends

KABUL, Afghanistan — The longest war in American history has ended. The final U.S. plane leaving Afghanistan departed on Monday, NBC News and others reported, citing Pentagon officials. All U.S. troops are now out of the country.

“I’m here to announce the completion of our mission in Afghanistan,” Marine Corps General Kenneth McKenzie told reporters, according to NBC. "The last C-17 took off at 3:29 p.m."

The evacuation caps a hectic two-week period since the Taliban re-captured the Kabul capital amid the U.S. drawdown of forces. Thirteen U.S. service members and hundreds of civilians were killed amid terrorist acts during the evacuation.

The Taliban, meanwhile, have proclaimed “full independence” for Afghanistan after the last U.S. soldiers flew out following 20 years of war, according to The Associated Press.

“American soldiers left the Kabul airport, and our nation got its full independence,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

The war in Afghanistan spanned 20 years, as Americans entered the country shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. It surpassed the Vietnam War as the longest war in the country's history by a few months.

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