Thread by @AshleyBurkeCBC

Canada's evacuation efforts in Afghanistan have ended. Only a small continent of troops remain on the ground. The Canadian Armed Forces helped airlifted an estimated 3,700 people out of Afghanistan, said acting Chief of Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre. #cdnpoli

Gen. Eyre said Canada stayed in Afghanistan as long as possible and wishes they could have stayed longer and "rescue everyone so desperate to leave". He calls this one of the most dangerous and complex operations in history. #cdnpoli

Gen. Eyre said the images in Afghanistan "tear at our souls." "These horrifying stories wills stay with us." He said circumstances on the ground rapidly deteriorated. "This is a crisis of the Taliban's making," he said.

Gen. Eyre said that there was "intense" misinformation and public scrutiny during the evacuation mission in Afghanistan because the military couldn't reveal information due to operational security so others interjected with narrative. #cndpoli

There are stories of soldiers taking care of a baby who a woman gave birth to 15 hours before boarding a flight out of Afghanistan, said Acting CDS Gen. Wayne Eyre. A boy who wouldn't leave one soldier's side because he was so fond of him, he said. #cdnpoli

IRCC is responding to thousands of calls and emails from people in Afghanistan a day, said assistant deputy minister Daniel Mills. They are now focused on phase two of the mission.

Gov't official says Canada received more than 2,500 applications for 8,000 people to leave Afghanistan. In total, Canada evacuated over 3,700 people from Kabul. But the gov't doesn't have a tally of how many didn't make it out. Officials say some could be in third countries.

Canadian Armed Forces has a small team working with US Forces on the ground to help its mission, said Gen. Eyre. The reality is the perimeter of airport is closed, the Taliban have closed in. #cdnpoli

Gen. Eyre said he was in Afghanistan when the flag was lowered and Canada ended its mission. He said the Americans are not to blame for not extending its evacuation mission, the blame is on the Taliban. "The Taliban are the ones who are inflicting the pain on Afghans" #cdnpoli

Canada does not have the capability to continue to do evacuation flights out of Afghanistan unilaterally, neither does any other country but the U.S., said Gen. Eyre.

Gen. Eyre said there was intense misinformation during the mission in Afghanistan. He points to a video that shows Afghans near the military (it looked like they were ignoring them). Eyre said people don't know the context. There were 10K pressed up against perimeter of airfield

Gen. Eyre said Canada was given a date from the US when it had to cease operations and start getting its troops out of Afghanistan. It was a "very delicate operation" in a difficult environment in order to ensure the airfield is kept protected. #cdnpoli