Taliban fighters fired celebratory shots into Kabul’s sky as word spread that the last flight had left.

Britain and America officially ended their 20-years military presence in Afghanistan late last night with the final US troops flying out from Kabul’s airport – leaving behind hundreds of citizens and Afghan allies desperate to flee the country now in the hands of the Taliban.

Both the American and UK forces left Kabul airport 24 hours ahead of the scheduled August 31 deadline.

Taliban fighters storm the airport and inspected several military helicopters and planes that was left behind by the US followed by celebratory shots fired into the air.

Fireworks, gunfire and explosions erupted as the Taliban celebrated victory over the U.S. and declared ‘full independence’ after the final flight left the city’s airport carrying troops and diplomats just after midnight.

There are reports that several interpreters who helped the armed forces over the last 20 years and even people with British passports are left behind. The number of people unable to make it out is not known.

“There’s a lot of heartbreak associated with this departure,” General Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command said.

“We did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out. But I think if we’d stayed another 10 days, we wouldn’t have gotten everybody out.”

Antony Blinken; US Secretary of State said work was continuing to help around 100 to 200 Americans who remain in Afghanistan as Hamid Karzai airport no longer offers an escape route.

Reports suggest many are already fleeing through Pakistan to the east and Iran to the west. The US and UK are still working on arrangements to allow people to be evacuated from these neighbouring countries.

While the international community appears to have accepted the reality of Taliban rule, the UK and US remain willing to take on Islamic State, also known as Daesh.