The Pentagon said Saturday that approximately 17,000 people have been evacuated by the United States from Afghanistan last week as the administration tries to intensify evacuation efforts.
General Hank Taylor, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there have been about 22,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan since the end of July, including about 2,500 Americans. Most of the evacuations have taken place since August 14th.
Evacuation efforts have become extremely difficult since the Taliban took over, as U.S. citizens and Afghan allies have struggled to reach Kabul airport. The Taliban took control of the capital on Sunday.
The Taliban have set up checkpoints leading to the airport, and the U.S. embassy in Kabul warned on Saturday of “possible security threats” facing Americans outside the airport gates.
There have been 38 flights out of the country in the last 24 hours via six military C-17s and 32 charters, Taylor said. The flights managed to take 3,800 people out of the country.
President Biden
Joe BidenHenri went into tropical depression when it rains in northeastern Britain to urge G7 leaders to consider adopting sanctions against the Taliban – report five lawmakers who will have to monitor the House’s budget vote MORE in a speech on Friday, the speed of the evacuations was promoted, highlighting the 6,000 troops on the ground to help with the processes.
“This is one of the largest and most difficult air bridges in history,” Biden said.
“Don’t be fooled, this evacuation mission is dangerous. It involves risks for our armed forces and is being carried out in difficult circumstances, “Biden added.” I can’t promise what the end result will be or … it will be risk-free. But as commander in chief , I can assure you that I will mobilize all the necessary resources “.
Biden has received harsh criticism from Democrats and Republicans for not evacuating individuals before, and his administration has been scrutinized for its poor judgment on the Taliban’s ability to quickly take control of the country.
The administration has faced growing calls to intensify efforts to help Americans arrive at Kabul airport to make a flight out of the country. Thousands more Afghan and American civilians who helped the U.S. during the 20-year conflict have yet to be evacuated.
Biden has been pushing for U.S. troops to withdraw from the country on Aug. 31, though he indicated this week that the deadline could be extended for troops to help more in evacuations.