Number of Americans left in Afghanistan is in the 'very low hundreds,' says Gen. McKenzie

As the Pentagon on Monday announced the official end to the 20-year war in Afghanistan, Commander of U.S. Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie confirmed that although the "vast majority" of Americans in Afghanistan were evacuated, some were in fact left behind.
"There's a lot of heartbreak associated with this departure," said McKenzie. "We did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out." McKenzie added that staying another 10 days wouldn't have changed the outcome.
That said, Mckenzie added that the State Department is going to work "very hard" to get those that are left — a number he believes to be in the "very low hundreds" — out of the country, writes ABC News' Conor Finnegan. Those who want to leave will still have the opportunity to.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Although the military phase of the mission in Afghanistan has ended, "the diplomatic sequel to that will now begin," said McKenzie. "Our desire to bring these people out remains as intense as it was before. The weapons have just shifted ... from the military realm to the diplomatic realm."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
June 22 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include a SpaceX flight, Bibi pulling Donald Trump toward war, and an ICE agent looking like a bank robber
-
5 bunker-busting cartoons about the Israel-Iran war
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on Iran waiting for Pete Hegseth to leak war plans and Donald Trump's wish for a Nobel prize
-
Malaysia's delicious food and glorious beaches
The Week Recommends From 'colourful' George Town to the 'jungled interior' of Langkawi, Malaysia is incredibly diverse
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read