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The Taliban face “overwhelming power” to thwart evacuation efforts following the chaotic scene where thousands of people are trying to flee Afghanistan at Kabul Airport after a terrorist group has ruled the country. Warned to try, the US Central Army said on Tuesday, showing on Tuesday.
General Frank McKenzie, commander of the US Central Command, said he met with senior Taliban leaders in Doha, Qatar on Sunday. “I warned them of interfering with our evacuation and revealed to them that any attack would be overwhelmingly encountered to protect our troops,” he said. rice field. statement..
“Protecting US civilians and our partners is my top priority and I will take all necessary actions to ensure a safe and efficient withdrawal,” he added. “To that end, we are ready to fully support the efforts of the US Embassy to treat and evacuate US citizens, partners, special visa applicants, and endangered Afghans.”
Americans were urged to leave Afghanistan
U.S. officials Prompting Americans travel abroad to Hamid Karzai International Airport, also known as Kabul Airport. This is a change in advice after asking Americans to evacuate.
Army Maj. Gen. William Tailer said at a Pentagon press conference Tuesday that more than 4,000 US troops are currently at the airport, facilitating evacuation by both military and civilian flights.
When Biden announced in April that it would end US war effort and withdraw all troops, more than 6,000 troops are expected to be involved in securing the airport in the next few days. This is more than double that of Afghanistan as a whole.
Taylor said seven C-17 planes took off overnight with 700-800 civilian evacuees, including 165 Americans. He said the figures included Afghans and third-country citizens who applied for special immigrant visas.
McKenzie visited the airport on Tuesday and said he believed the airfield was “safe and open to civilian air traffic, which is now operated by VFR.” He said the US military is currently working to “operate the airfield efficiently while ensuring the safe movement of civilians and diplomats leaving Kabul.”
“U.S. military air traffic controllers and grand handlers are working with State Department colleagues to accelerate operations to ensure a smooth flow of military reinforcements to the airport and the evacuation of U.S. and partner civilians. It’s expanding, “he said.
The White House said 1,100 Americans, permanent residents of the United States, and their families were evacuated on 13 flights on Tuesday, and the pace is expected to recover throughout the week.
Kirby and Taylor said on Tuesday that the goal was to reach an hourly evacuation flight on Wednesday, with 5,000 to 9,000 evacuees departing each day.
Taliban promises “safe passage” to the airport
The scene at the airport on Monday was one of the turmoil, with thousands of people flocking to Kabul airport and desperate to flee the country. video From that day on, it was shown that Taliban fighters had fired outside the airport when the crowd was about to enter.
The video also shows hundreds of people rushing to a single runway at the airport, flocking U.S. military aircraft, and when it leaves, at least two fall from it and cling to that side. Shown. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stephanek said on Tuesday that a human body was found in a well in the wheels of the same plane that flocked after landing at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Separately, Kirby said Monday that US soldiers were shot dead at the airport, forced to return fire, and killed two “armed individuals.”
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan Told reporters At the White House on Tuesday, the Taliban has since promised to “provide a safe passage for civilians to the airport.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki when asked if the warranty is in place Said“The result is the total weight and power of the US military,” she added, adding that the administration “does not trust” the Taliban and is closely watching the actions of extremist Islamic terrorist groups.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mimi Nguyen Ly is an Australian-based reporter. She covers world news with a focus on US news. Contact her at [email protected].
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