As the United States attempts to evacuate Afghanistan, a suicide bombing on the Kabul Airport killed 13 American service members, 70 Afghan citizens and 28 Taliban members. 

This attack marked the deadliest day for Americans in Afghanistan since 2011. President Biden said in a statement that he was heartbroken by the violence and vowed to retaliate the attacks. The United States started evacuating troops during the later part of the Trump administration but a massive troop pullout during the beginning of August gave the Taliban the opportunity to take over parts of the country. 

On Aug. 6, the Taliban took over the city of Zaranj, the capital of a province near the Iran border.

Over the next two days the Taliban proceeded to take the capital cities of four more provinces with some U.S resistance. 

In the next few weeks, videos surfaced of Taliban members overtaking government buildings as the military continued to pull out troops.  

Eventually the Taliban was able to take over the entire country which led to many Americans and Afghans being stuck in the Kabul airport for days and even weeks at a time. With United States service members assisting trying to get as many people as possible out of the country.