The American flag has been removed at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul on Sunday, a final step in the mass and rapid evacuation of U.S. citizens and some Afghan allies who are now awaiting flights out of the country.

Driving the news: The Defense Department has also authorized an additional 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to aid in the chaotic final stage of the evacuation, per the Washington Post…

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul had earlier tweeted that it had “conveyed to the Taliban reps” in Doha, Qatar, where on-and-off peace talks have been taking place, that any action that put American personnel “or our mission at risk” would be met with a “swift” and “strong” response from the U.S. Defense Department.