The flag of the United States is no longer flying at the top of the country’s embassy in war-torn Afghanistan, according to media reports citing an official of the State Department. The statement also revealed that nearly all personnel present at the embassy have been evacuated from the building and are now at Kabul’s international airport.

Thousands of people are awaiting flights outbound from Afghanistan, including the embassy officials who carry the American flag.

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In a joint statement Sunday night, the State Department and the Department of Defense say they are taking steps to secure the airport for safe departures by way of civilian and military flights and further announced that forces of the United States will be taking charge of the air traffic control of the Kabul airport.

The statement says the US security presence will have expanded to nearly 6,000 troops over the next two days and will take over air traffic control.

Those leaving include American citizens who have been living in Afghanistan, locally employed staff of the US mission in Kabul and their families, and other particularly vulnerable Afghan nationals, according to reports from Associated Press.

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Also part of the departure plan are thousands of Afghans eligible for US special immigrant visas. Nearly 2,000 of those with special visas have arrived in the United States over the past two weeks.

The statement, according to reports from CNN, said, “Tomorrow and over the coming days, we will be transferring out of the country thousands of American citizens who have been resident in Afghanistan, as well as locally employed staff of the US mission in Kabul and their families and other particularly vulnerable Afghan nationals.”

(With inputs from Associated Press)