US Forces Taking Over Kabul Airport for Evacuations

 

US embassy evacuated, personnel await flights out of airport

by Jason Ditz 

Posted onAugust 15, 2021CategoriesNewsTagsAfghanistan, Pentagon

The US pullout from Afghanistan had long come with attempted arrangements for what was going to happen to the Kabul Airport. With the nation facing a precipitous collapse, the US troops sent to oversee the evacuation are finding themselves having taken over air traffic control and operation of the airport.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price confirmed that the airport is “secured by the US military,” adding that the entire embassy has been evacuated, and all personnel are now at the airport.

Reports earlier Sunday had some 500 personnel flown out through the airport. Thousands more will be leaving in the coming days.

In addition to Americans, the US is also planning to evacuate certain Afghans eligible for US Special Immigrant Visas. This includes Afghan translators who worked for the US military operation.

A number of western nations are engaged in similar evacuations of their citizens, and particularly their embassy staffs. Though few are anywhere near the size of the US staff, most are temporarily closing their embassies. The Taliban insists that foreign nationals will not face any danger.

https://news.antiwar.com/2021/08/15/us-forces-taking-over-kabul-airport-for-evacuations/