Dozens of Americans and thousands of Afghans left behind in Kabul

Maj Gen Chris Donahue, commander of the US Army 82nd Airborne Division, boards a C-17 cargo plane at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul (US Central Command/AP)

As the final five US military transport aircraft lifted off out of Afghanistan, they left behind up to 200 Americans and thousands of desperate Afghans who must now rely on the Taliban to allow their departure.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said America will continue to try to get Americans and Afghans out of the country, and will work with Afghanistan’s neighbours to secure their departure either over land or by charter flight once the Kabul airport reopens.