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Updated Aug 31, 2021 - World

In photos: Scenes from Afghanistan as America's longest war ends

Rebecca Falconer
Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak unit celebrate before storming into the Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Aug. 31

Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak unit celebrate before storming into Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, after the U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan on Aug. 31. Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Pentagon tweeted a photo of the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan, with the caption "ending the U.S. mission in Kabul."

The big picture: The moment marks the end of America's longest war after nearly 20 years of military involvement in Afghanistan. Taliban fighters were pictured with American equipment moving into Kabul's international airport soon after the U.S. troops left.

US soldiers board an US Air Force aircraft at the airport in Kabul on August 30
American soldiers board a U.S. Air Force aircraft at Kabul's international airport on Aug. 30. Photo: Aamir Qureshi/AFP via Getty Images
A Taliban fighter sits inside the cockpit of an Afghan Air Force aircraft at the airport in Kabul on August 31
A Taliban fighter sits inside the cockpit of an Afghan Air Force aircraft at the airport in Kabul on Aug. 31, after the U.S. pulled all its troops out of Afghanistan. Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images
Burqa clad Afghan women cross a street in Kabul on August 31
Afghan women cross a street in Kabul on Aug. 31. Photo: Aamir Qureshi/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks light up part of the night sky after the last US aircraft took off from the airport in Kabul early on August 31
Fireworks in Kabul after the last U.S. aircraft took off from the airport on Aug. 31. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak enter Kabul's airport after the U.S. Military have completed their withdrawal, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Aug. 31
Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak unit entering Kabul's international airport on Aug. 31. Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak unit take over the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. (MARCUS YAM / LOS ANGELES TIMES)
The Fateh Zwak unit fighters entering Kabul's airport on Aug. 31. Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak unit storm into the Kabul International Airport Tuesday, Aug. 31
The Fateh Zwak unit at the airport on Aug. 31. Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak unit, wielding American supplied weapons, equipment and uniforms, storm into the Kabul International Airport Aug. 31
A Taliban fighter from the Fateh Zwak unit at Kabul's airport on Aug. 31. Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak unit in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Aug. 31
Fateh Zwak unit fighters inside the airport on Aug. 31. Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more photos.

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