COLORADO SPRINGS — For the first time in 20 years, a United States President will address the nation while troops are not actively fighting in Afghanistan. The largest non-combatant airlift in American history ended Monday, and with it the United State's longest conflict came to a close.
During the conflict in Afghanistan, more than 2,000 American lives were lost and we honor and remember their sacrifice. Major General Chris Donahue was the last US soldier to leave Afghanistan on a C-17 that lifted off from Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport Monday at 3:29 p.m. EST (1:29 MDT).
As of Monday, more than 122,000 people in total had been airlifted from the airport since July, according to a Pentagon spokesman. This number includes 6,0000 US civilians. The State Department estimates there are fewer than 200 Americans who may still want to leave as well as thousands of Afghans who served alongside U.S. forces.
Although the fighting is officially over, the Department of Homeland Security explains that many threats are still active. DHS believes that another terrorist attack could be orchestrated by ISIS-K-an affiliate of ISIS that spread into Northern Iraq from Syria, six years ago-the Taliban, or even Al-Quaeda.
