The last U.S. planes have taken off from Kabul's airport, marking the end of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and of the efforts to airlift thousands of U.S. citizens and vulnerable Afghans as the country fell to the Taliban, CENTCOM Commander Gen. Kenneth McKenzie confirmed.

The state of play: The U.S. facilitated the evacuation of over 120,000 people, including 5,000 Americans, but a small number of Americans and thousands of Afghan allies are believed to still be in the country. The airport had come under attack in the final days of the operation, potentially spurring the Pentagon to complete its withdrawal ahead of President Biden's Aug. 31 deadline.

Prior to the announcement, a notice went out to pilots that flights transiting through Kabul would be traveling in "uncontrolled airspace."