The last American soldier has gone out of Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced on Monday, leaving the country in the hands of the Taliban, their enemies 20 years at the end of the longest war in the history of the United States.

"The last C-17 plane took off from Kabul airport on August 30" at 7:29 pm GMT, Gen. Kenneth McKenzie told a news conference.

The US ambassador to Afghanistan and the commander of the US military forces on Afghan soil were the last to board the final evacuation flight from Kabul. "On board the last plane was General Chris Donahue," said General Kenneth McKenzie, commander of the US Central Command on which Afghanistan depends. "And he was accompanied by Ambassador Ross Wilson."

"Although the military evacuation has been completed, the diplomatic mission continues to secure more eligible American and Afghan citizens who want to leave," added the head of the US Central Command in charge of Afghanistan.

"Since August 14, over a period of 18 days, planes from the United States and its allies have evacuated more than 123,000 civilians from Hami Karzai International Airport," Gen. McKenzie also said.

The Pentagon admitted that it was unable to evacuate as many people from Afghanistan as it wanted.