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US troops withdraw: In May and June 2021, US troops withdraw from Afghanistan, as agreed under a deal Trump struck with the Taliban in 2020.
Fighting surges: With less US troops there to support the Afghan army, the Taliban begins seizing swathes of territory.
Afghan forces collapse: In August, the Afghan security forces largely collapsed, as they ran out of ammunition in many areas.
People flee to Kabul: By mid-August, tens of thousands of people were desperate to escape the Taliban and were heading to the capital Kabul. Elsewhere, the Taliban were killing male family members who had worked for the security forces, and re-imposing restrictions on women.
Taliban takes over Kabul, president flees country: Kabul is the last city to fall to the Taliban.
Kabul airport attack: Some 170 civilians and 13 US soldiers are killed in a bombing at the packed Kabul Airport as people try to flee. The Islamic State group were thought to be responsible.
US drone strike kills civilians: One of the US military’s final acts in Afghanistan was a drone strike targeting a suicide bomber, but it killed 10 innocent people.
Last US soldier leaves Afghanistan: On 20 August, the last soldier left, ending America’s longest war.
