[ad_1]
U.S. military officials confirmed on Monday that the U.S. military has rescued Americans at least twice in Afghanistan’s largest city since the Taliban took over the country.
The Pentagon confirmed late last week that the troops left the US-owned Kabul International Airport last week and rescued a group of 169 Americans. The army used a Chinook helicopter to rescue the Baron Hotel. Officials near the airport later told the press.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that at least one other rescue mission was carried out using the aircraft.
There was at least one additional case where a rotary airlift was used to help Americans enter the airport from outside the airport, “Kirby told a press conference in Washington.
Thousands of Americans, Afghans, and others arrived at the airport, but they had to bravely confront the streets patroled by Taliban terrorists. The militants reportedly blocked some people from the facility. They also defeated some, including Americans.
When other nations carried out operations to rescue civilians from outside the airport, the US military faced criticism that it did not carry out similar operations. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said last week that the unit did not have “the ability to go out and gather large numbers of people.” However, since then, the number of US troops at the airport has increased, allowing them to keep their facilities safe and rescue them.
Currently, there are about 5,800 troops at the airport.
“Our capacity has improved, and with that 5,800 number, as you have seen, we have the ability to ensure that American citizens are safely brought in and ready to evacuate. We have done other operations, “Major Hank Taylor, Deputy Regional Operations Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Monday.
“The secretary said last Wednesday that we weren’t capable of moving large-scale, large-scale people, but if someone was in an extreme situation, We said we needed to get them in small numbers, we can do it, and we’ve done it, “Kirby added. ..
“And, as the general said, it was last Wednesday. In the next few days, more capabilities were deployed and more troops were deployed. Therefore, if possible, if possible. Has the ability to help Americans move towards the gates, and I’m not going to talk about all those details, but we have those features, “he said. ..
At this time, officials said there are no plans to require additional troops to expand these capabilities.
According to Kirby, the troops left the US-owned airport for rescue, but not on a regular basis.
“We don’t want to leave you with the idea that we are somehow patroling the city of Kabul. But occasionally, if we need and are capable of meeting that need, our commander on earth, I’m doing what I feel they need to do to help Americans arrive at the airport, “he said.
The latest information on the mission came after Senator Joni Ernst (Republican) said on Sunday that more should be done to drive Americans out of Afghanistan.
“We are the strongest army facing this planet, and we need to use those authorities to make sure we are bending the muscles of the army, especially when it comes to the evacuation of Americans.” She said in ABC’s “This Week”.
“The Taliban need to clearly understand that we have the right to expel American citizens from Afghanistan, and if that means we need to take them to our airport. We will do that, “she added.
Zachary Stieber covers US news, including politics and proceedings. He started in The Epoch Times as a metro reporter for New York City.
[ad_2]