Why did the US leave Bagram quietly?

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday that the exact moment of the departure “was not divulged for operational security purposes. In general we felt it was better to keep that information as closely held as possible.” He added: “It’s not a statement about whether we trust or don’t trust our Afghan partners.”

Did the US leave Bagram in the middle of the night?

The US announced on Friday that it had vacated Bagram, effectively completing its military campaign in Afghanistan ahead of the official end date of 11 September, announced by President Joe Biden earlier this year.

When did the US pull out of Bagram Air Base?

19, 2014. U.S. troops left Bagram for good July 1, 2021.

What did the US leave at Bagram Air Base?

When US forces pulled out of Bagram Airfield, a strategic air base in Afghanistan, in the middle of the night last week, they left behind a lot of things, from bottles of water and energy drinks to civilian and armored vehicles, an Afghan general told The Associated Press.

When did Bagram airfield close?

2014
Home to a hospital and helicopter hangars, for much of the war Bagram also featured a detention facility feared by Afghans, which some human rights groups likened to Guantanamo Bay. The facility was closed by U.S. authorities in the country in 2014. The departure is rife with symbolism.

What happened at Bagram Air Base?

BAGRAM, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.S. left Afghanistan’s Bagram Airfield after nearly 20 years by shutting off the electricity and slipping away in the night without notifying the base’s new Afghan commander, who discovered the Americans’ departure more than two hours after they left, Afghan military officials said.

How were prisoners treated at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan?

The investigative file on Bagram, obtained by The Times, showed that the mistreatment of prisoners was routine: shackling them to the ceilings of their cells, depriving them of sleep, kicking and hitting them, sexually humiliating them and threatening them with guard dogs — the very same behavior later repeated in …

Is Bagram closed?

Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul, closed yesterday with little fanfare. The base was turned over to Afghan forces, marking the end of the U.S. combat mission that began 20 years ago. Again, this is the last big base the Americans had.

Which president shut down military bases?

Kennedy was briefed after his inauguration that the missile gap was not a concern. On March 28, 1961 President Kennedy announced the closure of 73 military establishments. “In December 1963, Secretary McNamara announced the closure of twenty-six DOD installations or activities in the CONUS”.

What is Bagram known for?

The United States set up the Parwan Detention Facility, known as Bagram, or Afghanistan’s Guantanamo, in late 2001 to house armed fighters after the Taliban launched a rebellion following its removal from power in a military invasion.

Is Bagram air base closing?

Why did the US leave Bagram Airfield?

BAGRAM, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.S. left Afghanistan’s Bagram Airfield after nearly 20 years by shutting off the electricity and slipping away in the night without notifying the base’s new Afghan commander, who discovered the Americans’ departure more than two hours after they left, Afghan military officials said.

What happened to Bagram complex?

The Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989. When the U.S. and NATO inherited Bagram years later, they found it in ruins and largely abandoned.

What does the Taliban’s withdrawal from Bagram mean for Afghanistan?

But the withdrawal from Bagram, devoid of any pomp and ceremony, is a symbolic victory for the Taliban, who have waged a relentless cross-country battle against the Afghan military, pushing back government forces and overrunning a growing number of districts.

What did the US leave behind when it leaves Afghanistan?

Kohistani said the U.S. left behind 3.5 million items, all itemized by the departing U.S. military. They include tens of thousands of bottles of water, energy drinks and military ready-made meals, known as MRE’s.