WASHINGTON – The Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. military conduct extraction operations to evacuate Americans by helicopter and ground troops as the window begins to close to rescue all people at risk in Afghanistan.
The CIA has launched clandestine operations to rescue Americans inside and outside Kabul in recent days, according to U.S. and other officials. Missions use U.S. military helicopters, but under CIA operation and control, a typical deal in such operations.
A congressional source familiar with the evacuation effort said U.S. troops had gone to Kabul on joint missions with other allies at designated locations where they have picked up U.S. citizens, green card holders and Afghans who have visas. specials to help the US military.
Air and ground operations are considered dangerous in the current circumstances of the country, as the United States has begun to prioritize the evacuation of Americans over at-risk Afghans. These include the thousands of Afghan interpreters and others who worked for the U.S. government, but who remain within the country and face Taliban pay.
The Pentagon has said it is coordinating with the Taliban on airport security, but it is unclear whether those discussions also included extraction missions.