On May 1, 2021, the United States began its final withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, ending a nearly two-decade-long war that has cost the lives of more than 2,400 American service members and tens of thousands of Afghan civilians.
The withdrawal of the remaining 2,500 U.S. troops is expected to be completed by September 11, 2021, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that prompted the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan marks the end of America’s longest war, a conflict that has cost the U.S. more than $2 trillion and resulted in the deaths of more than 100,000 people, including more than 32,000 Afghan civilians.
The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan was launched in response to the 9/11 attacks, with the goal of dismantling al-Qaeda and its Taliban allies, who had provided safe haven to the terrorist group. The U.S. and its allies were successful in ousting the Taliban from power, but the group has since regained control of large parts of the country.
The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is part of a peace deal signed between the Taliban and the U.S. in February 2020. Under the deal, the Taliban agreed to reduce violence and enter into negotiations with the Afghan government. In exchange, the U.S. agreed to withdraw all of its troops from the country by May 2021.
The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a major milestone in the country’s long and troubled history. However, the future of Afghanistan remains uncertain, as the Taliban and the Afghan government remain locked in a bitter dispute over the country’s future.
The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is a bittersweet moment for many Americans, who have seen their sons and daughters fight and die in the country for nearly two decades. As the U.S. troops leave Afghanistan, they will be remembered for their courage and sacrifice in the service of their country.