| In a statement, President Biden praised U.S. forces for evacuating more than 120,000 Americans and allies. The president said he will address the nation on Tuesday on his decision not to extend operations beyond Aug. 31, but as of today, he said the Joint Chiefs of Staff and all commanders on the ground agreed that ending the military mission was "the best way to protect the lives of our troops and secure the prospects of civilian departures for those who want to leave Afghanistan in the weeks and months ahead." | 
