JUDY WOODRUFF: But, first, America's longest war is over. The final military flight of
American troops left Afghanistan just before midnight on what is now Tuesday, August 31,
In Kabul after 20 years of war. As of today, the U.S. has airlifted more than 120,000 American
civilians and Afghan allies out of Kabul, almost all of them in the last two-plus weeks.
But thousands of Afghans who want to leave are left behind, for now. And the deaths of
many Americans and Afghans over the last several days haunt this exit. Again with the support
of the Pulitzer Center, here's "NewsHour" special correspondent Jane Ferguson. GEN.
FRANK MCKENZIE, Commander, U.S. Central Command: I'm here to announce
The completion of our withdrawal from Afghanistan
and the end of the military mission to evacuate American citizens, third country nationals
and vulnerable Afghans. The last C-17 lifted off from Hamid Karzai International Airport
on August 30 this afternoon at 3:29 p.m. East Coast time, and the last manned aircraft is
now clearing the airspace above Afghanistan. JANE FERGUSON: The announcement came from
the top American general in the region, General Frank McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central
Command. GEN. FRANK MCKENZIE: Tonight's withdrawal signifies both the end of the military component
of the evacuation, but also the end of the nearly 20-year mission that began in Afghanistan
shortly after September 11, 2001. JANE FERGUSON: The general also noted that both he and his
son had served in the country, a generational American war effort now ended. GEN. FRANK
MCKENZIE: Look, there's a lot of heartbreak associated with this departure. We did not
get everybody out that we wanted to get out. But I think, if we'd stayed another 10 days,
Louis (ph), we wouldn't have gotten everybody out that we wanted to get out. JANE FERGUSON:
It was a bloody end, as the Americans finished their flight from Afghanistan, for both the
U.S. and Afghans. Blood-stained, the hood of a car destroyed in a Kabul neighborhood
Sunday by a U.S. drone strike. President Biden last week promised action against the terror
group ISIS-K after they launched an attack outside Kabul Airport that killed at least
170 Afghans and 13 American service members. The Pentagon said Sunday's strike hit a suicide
bomber bound for the airport. But reports emerged today that it may have actually been
a family. At least 10 civilians were reportedly killed, including seven children. In Washington
today, Pentagon press Secretary John Kirby said the Defense Department is investigating.
JOHN KIRBY, Pentagon Press Secretary: If we have verifiable information that we did in
fact take innocent life here, then we will be transparent about that too. Nobody wants
to see that happen. JANE FERGUSON: In Kabul this morning, thick plumes of black smoke
rose from a burning car, the apparent site from which a rocket attack was launched at
the airport. No U.S. personnel were killed. A U.S. countermissile system intercepted at
least five rockets early Monday morning, thwarting the attack that shook the area. JAIUDDIN KHAN,
Kabul Resident (through translator): I was inside the house with my children and other
family members. Suddenly, there were blasts. We jumped into the house compound and lay
on the ground. JANE FERGUSON: The Islamic State in Afghanistan, so-called ISIS-K, claimed
responsibility the attack. The U.S. and 97 countries have agreed to take those fleeing
the Taliban after the August 31 deadline. The group insists it has been granted assurances
by the Taliban that these people will be able to leave. At Dover Air Force Base in Delaware
on Sunday, the remains of the 13 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan last week were returned
home. President Biden and the first lady watched the flag-draped coffins during a dignified
transfer ritual and met with the families of those killed. They died Thursday in that
bombing at the airport. The oldest was 31 years old. The rest of those killed were in
their early 20's, and many were just 20 years old, dead in the last days of a war that started
when they were babies. For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Jane Ferguson in Washington. JUDY WOODRUFF:
This evening, President Biden released a statement asking Americans to pray for our service members,
those who helped evacuations and those who will welcome our new Afghan neighbors. He
will address the nation tomorrow. We will return to Jane's reporting on the push to
evacuate Afghanistan later in the program.