Update 6:42 p.m. EDT Aug. 30: Less than two hours after the final five U.S. planes departed Kabul, President Joe Biden issued a statement thanking the last U.S. forces serving in Afghanistan for executing the “dangerous retrograde from Afghanistan as scheduled,” without further loss of American life, CNN reported.

“The past 17 days have seen our troops execute the largest airlift in US history, evacuating over 120,000 US citizens, citizens of our allies, and Afghan allies of the United States. They have done it with unmatched courage, professionalism, and resolve,” Biden wrote in the statement released Monday night.

“Now, our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan has ended," he added.

Biden also confirmed that he will address the nation on Tuesday regarding his decision to not extend the United States’ presence in Afghanistan beyond the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline, calling it the “unanimous recommendation of the Joint Chiefs and of all of our commanders on the ground to end our airlift mission as planned.”

Earlier Monday, Gen. Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie, the top general of U.S. Central Command, acknowledged that the U.S. military “did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out,” and Biden stressed in his statement that he intends to hold the Taliban accountable to its promise to evacuate peacefully all who wish to leave, CNN reported.

“The Taliban has made commitments on safe passage and the world will hold them to their commitments. It will include ongoing diplomacy in Afghanistan and coordination with partners in the region to reopen the airport allowing for continued departure for those who want to leave and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan,” Biden stated.

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