General Christopher Donahue, Last US Soldier in Kabul, to Step Down Early
General Christopher Donahue, commander of the United States Army in Europe and Africa, is set to end his mission on July 2. Reports indicate that his tenure will conclude ahead of the official schedule.
According to Reuters, citing informed sources, Donahue has faced the risk of dismissal in recent months due to disagreements with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. These sources also note that he is a respected figure among military and political officials in Europe.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Donahue’s early departure is part of a broader plan by the US Defense Secretary to reduce the number of generals and admirals in the US military. So far, no further details about the nature of these disagreements have been disclosed.
Donahue served as commander of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in August 2021 and played a key role in the final days of the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. A photograph of him boarding a C-17 aircraft at Kabul airport became one of the most iconic images marking the end of the US military presence in Afghanistan.
His departure from Kabul at that time marked the completion of the US mission to evacuate American citizens and vulnerable Afghans from Kabul airport—a pivotal event in the country’s political and security developments.
