The U.S. military withdrew from Bagram Air Force Base on July 2, with Afghan National Security and Defense Force (ANDSF) taking over. The ANDSF commander in charge of administering the base did not learn of the withdrawal until two hours after it happened.
The Taliban declared the withdrawal a “dignified tale of Jihad, extraordinary sacrifice, valor, epics, and remarkable resistance of our faithful people.” The group took charge of the airbase on Aug. 15, releasing 5,000 of its fighters who were held in the prison located on the grounds.
Republicans have criticized the decision to release control of Bagram.