The 20-year US military presence in Afghanistan is over. The head of US Central Command, Gen Kenneth McKenzie, announced just after midnight Tuesday morning, 31 August, that the last flight out of Kabul was 'now clearing the airspace above Afghanistan'. 'Tonight’s withdrawal signifies both the end of the military component of the evacuation, but also the end of the nearly 20-year mission that began in Afghanistan shortly after September 11 2001,' he said. 

United States secretary of state Antony Blinken said in a speech a few hours later that a 'new chapter' with America's engagement with Afghanistan had begun. 'It’s one in which we will lead with our diplomacy. The military mission is over,' he said.

After 20 years, last US flight departs Kabul, leaving Afghanistan to its fate

The Pentagon has said it is investigating reports of civilian casualties from a drone strike on Sunday in Kabul, but is 'not in a position to dispute' accounts from the scene of nine people from one family being killed, including seven children.

US military officials continued to insist however that the strike hit an Islamic State car bomb, pointing to 'secondary explosions' at the scene. 

That conflicted with reports from Kabul, that the targeted vehicle belonged to a civilian and that children were in it when it was struck by a missile from a US drone.

Initial reports said at least 10 people were killed, nine from the same family, who lived on the street where the attack happened, adding to the bloodshed and chaos of the last days of the 20-year US military presence. 

Among the dead were three two-year-olds, two three-year-olds and two 10-year-olds, according to reports from Kabul

• Pentagon says it can’t ‘dispute’ accounts of Kabul strike that killed children