Top US commander in Afghanistan steps down as troops withdraw – live

  • Four-star general Scott Miller announces departure in Kabul
  • Biden says ‘We stand with the Cuban people’ amid protests

3.56pm BST

General Scott Miller has stood down from his post as the top US commander in Afghanistan, handing over to another four-star general who will oversee operations in the country – but from the US – until America’s troops are all brought out by August 31.

The sense of impending crisis for the Afghan government and the 38 million ordinary people of Afghanistan is only growing, as the extremist Taliban advances and a diplomatic vacuum opens in the troubled nation.

1TV: General Scott Miller gives remarks at the leadership handover ceremony in Kabul. […] https://t.co/qDB1rzVFBU

Handed over command of what has become known as America’s “forever war” in its waning days to Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command. McKenzie will operate from Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

The handover took place in the heavily fortified Resolute Support headquarters in the heart of Kabul at a time of rapid territorial gains by Taliban insurgents across Afghanistan.

Related: Afghanistan: America’s ‘longest war’ ends amid accusations of betrayal

Related: Taliban sweep through Herat province as Afghan advance continues

3.31pm BST

Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, has also expressed support for the Cuban people who are protesting their country’s government and economic crisis.

Florida supports the people of Cuba as they take to the streets against the tyrannical regime in Havana. The Cuban dictatorship has repressed the people of Cuba for decades & is now trying to silence those who have the courage to speak out against its disastrous policies#SOSCuba pic.twitter.com/H71EYoKdUZ

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Source: The Guardian