Conflict in Afghanistan
The majority of U.S. troops left Afghanistan through the Kabul Airport on Aug. 16. On that day, hundreds of Afghans crowded around the departing planes hoping to escape from the country, leaving at least five people dead in the aftermath. This marked the end of 21 years of U.S. presence in the country serving as protection from terrorist groups. Only 10 days after Kabul’s first airport incident, a suicide bomber detonated at the Kabul airport on Aug. 26. The bomb killed more than 80 people, including 13 U.S. troops. The attack was later accredited to ISIS-K, an affiliate of the terrorist group ISIS. After numerous terrorist attacks across the country, the Taliban gained full control over Afghanistan on Sept. 7 and announced a new government over the country, establishing known terrorist Muhammad Hassan Akhund as the prime minister.
California’s Raging Fires
The Dixie Fire, located 175 miles north of Sacramento in Feather River Canyon, has burned 960,213 acres and is 86% contained as of Sept. 16. This makes it the second-largest wildfire in California history. The Caldor Fire blazing 100 miles south of the Dixie Fire in the El Dorado National Forest has destroyed 218,950 acres and is also 65% contained. Despite charring significantly less acreage than the Dixie Fire, the Caldor Fire is currently ranked as the 16th most destructive fire in California history while the Dixie Fire is ranked as the 14th. As of Sept. 12, 2.2 million acres have burned across California this year.
Hurricane Ida’s Havoc
Category 4 storm Hurricane Ida touched down near Port Fourchon, Louisiana on Aug. 29 with wind speeds of over 150 miles per hour. The storm ravaged Louisiana, knocking out power for over 560,000 residents. Ida continued to bring heavy rains and tornadoes as it moved northeast through Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The Louisiana Department of Health has reported 82 deaths as a result of storm-related events.
