The US State Department announced that the US flag was withdrawn today, Monday, from the US embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, noting that almost all of the embassy’s staff members are at the airport waiting for their evacuation, hours after the Taliban entered the capital.
The United States and 65 countries also stressed, in a joint statement, that Afghan nationals and foreigners wishing to leave Afghanistan should be allowed to do so, warning the Taliban that there will be accountability for any violations.
“We are currently taking a series of measures to secure Hamid Karzai International Airport, in order to allow the safe departure of US personnel and their allies from Afghanistan on civilian and military flights,” the US Departments of State and Defense said in a joint statement.
A State Department spokesman said the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Ross Wilson, was also at the airport and was in contact with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
In their joint statement, the two ministries added: “During the next 48 hours, we will have expanded our security presence to nearly 6,000 soldiers, with a mission focused exclusively on facilitating (evacuation) efforts and assuming air traffic control.”
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