The United States has helped four citizens flee Afghanistan to a neighboring country, the first of its evacuation since the final withdrawal of the nation’s forces.
A State Department spokesman told The Hill that it “facilitated the safe exit of four U.S. citizens from Afghanistan by land on Monday.”
“U.S. embassy staff were present to greet them as they left Afghanistan,” the spokesman said.
The Associated Press first reported the evacuation, which reported that citizens escaped with their children.
An American official did not give Ap any details about where the family arrived citing security measures and the need to preserve the route for future efforts.
The United States ended its longest war last Tuesday, when U.S. troops left Afghanistan amid a chaotic retreat.
The United States and its allies evacuated more than 124,000 people from Afghanistan, including 6,000 U.S. citizens.
Still, the administration is working to help U.S. citizens and Afghan allies who were unable to leave the country when U.S. troops left.
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain
Ron KlainUS helped citizens and families flee Afghanistan to neighboring country The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Questions on Biden’s agenda; Unemployment benefits to end State Department say it has no “reliable means” to confirm whether Taliban prevent Americans from leaving Afghanistan MORE he told CNN’s “State of the Union.” Sunday that about 100 Americans were still waiting to be evacuated.
He added that some had family members in the country and some wanted to stay, but said the US would evacuate those who wanted to leave.
Rep. Michael McCaul
Michael Thomas McCaul Blumenthal “frustrated, even furious” at the delays in getting Americans out of Afghanistan The U.S. helped citizens and families escape from Afghanistan to the neighboring country. The Hill’s Morning Report – Posted by Facebook – Questions on Biden’s agenda; unemployment benefits end MORE (R-Texas), the top Republican in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Sunday that planes carrying U.S. and Afghan allies are sitting at Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport trying to leave, but they could not do so.
The State Department, however, said it had no means of verifying McCaul’s claim.
Updated at 11:37 am