BRITISH troops are pictured on a plane heading home from Kabul - after the UK's evacuation of Afghan nationals ended today with more than 1,000 trapped with the Taliban.
Dozens of soldiers clutching rifles packed onto the RAF A400M transporter as it took off from the capital's airport.
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The UK has ended evacuation flights out of Kabul with soldiers returning home Credit: EPA 16
Soldiers were packed onto the planes returning home Credit: Twitter/TheParachuteReg 16
Troops touched down at Brize Norton this afternoon f Credit: PA
The Ministry of Defence released the images after it confirmed this afternoon that the last flight exclusively for taking people out of the stricken country and into Britain has gone.
Around 1,000 British troops handling the airlift and other personnel were due to leave soon after the operation was wrapped up.
It comes as experts warn another devastating terror attack is "likely" following the suicide bomb that killed at least 170.
General Sir Nick Carter, head of the UK armed forces, earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the final flights were on the way out.
"We're reaching the end of the evacuation, which will take place during the course of today, and then of course it'll be necessary to bring our troops out on the remaining aircraft," he said.
"It's gone as well as it could do in the circumstances."
Many British troops have already landed back home, with pictures showing soldiers in uniform pouring from military planes in RAF Brize Norton today.
Tragically, experts say there is more horror yet to come for the people of Afghanistan.
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Some are predicting "the biggest hostage crisis the UK has ever seen" as between 100 and 150 UK nationals and up to 1,100 eligible Afghans are left behind.
And President Joe Biden has been briefed that "another terror attack in Kabul is likely" as the US yesterday launched a drone strike against the ISIS-K "planner" of Thursday's suicide bombing.
The devastating explosion killed at least 169 people, including two Brits and the child of a UK national and 13 US servicemen.
One of the victims has been named as London taxi driver Muhammad Niazi, whose wife and two daughters are missing.
It comes as...
Heartbroken Pen Farthing forced to leave his staff behind in Kabul as he escapes Taliban terror with 180 cats and dogs US drone strike ‘kills’ ISIS-K ‘planner’ behind Kabul bomb as General vows ’24/7′ hunt for Afghan militants Hostage fears for 1,000 Afghan allies left at the mercy of Taliban and ISIS-K as Boris tells of ‘great regret’
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace admitted around 100 and 150 UK nationals will be left in Afghanistan after the evacuations.
Some stayed willingly, he said.
Between 800 and 1,100 Afghans eligible under the Arap scheme - which applies to those who helped the UK and are at risk of persecution by the Taliban - will be left in the country, he added.
Meanwhile, Pen Farthing is believed to be on one of the last flights out.
He was forced to leave his Afghan members of staff and their families behind.
FINAL FLIGHT
Chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Tom Tugendhat, warned the number of people left behind could spark a further crisis.
Speaking to Sky News, the Tory MP, who served in Afghanistan, said: "There's a possibility we may find ourselves with the biggest hostage crisis the UK has ever seen.
"Over 3,000 entitled people were said to be in Afghanistan at the beginning of the process, I don't know how many now, but we'll be asking about that.
"And we'll be looking to see what that means for getting British citizens out, what that means for getting entitled people out and protecting those people who are, quite rightly, literally in fear of their lives now."
Earlier he said one of those stuck in Afghanistan was his own interpreter.
"I'm not giving up, but my anger and shame for those we've left behind to be hunted by the Taliban is growing," he said.
'ANGER AND SHAME'
Tory MP Bob Seely described the scrambled evacuation as the "Dunkirk of the 21st Century".
The ex-soldier and member of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee told The Sun: "It's desperately sad that some are being left behind.
"The Brits are a worry in themselves, but it will likely be even worse for the Afghans who put their lives on the line and now face the wrath of the Taliban.
But he warned that scooping up the stragglers could be a nightmare because people fleeing for the border face "brutal" Taliban checkpoints.
"Anyone travelling with spouse and kids will be rightly petrified going through checkpoint. They will be putting their lives on the line every time they do."
The Prime Minister pledged to "shift heaven and earth" to allow those who wished to leave the country to do so after the August 31 withdrawal deadline set by the Americans.
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It comes after a devastating bomb blast outside the airport Credit: New York Times 16
Afghan refugees were turned away from the airport Credit: AFP 16
Troops poured out of planes Credit: PA 16
Soldiers were seen carrying their belongings along the tarmac Credit: PA 16
One of the victims of Thursday's attack has been named as British Afghan Muhammad Niazi Credit: Facebook 16
Mr Niazi's wife, youngest child and eldest daughter are still missing Credit: BBC 16
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A person wounded in the bomb blast outside the Kabul airport on Thursday Credit: New York Times 16
Thousands of foreign nationals and Afghan allies have been evacuated over the last week Credit: Reuters 16
Khalil Haqqani is Kabul airport's self-appointed "head of security" Credit: Rex 16
An Afghan man hands his child to a British Paratrooper amid the chaos at Kabul airport Credit: AP 16
Up to 150 British citizens and 1,100 Afghan aides are set to miss the final airlifts Credit: AP 16
Officials have warned Britain now faces the 'biggest hostage crisis ever' from the Taliban or ISIS Credit: AP
US strikes Islamic State in Afghanistan claiming ‘initial indications are that we killed the target’