U.S. Forces in Afghanistan as it falls to the Taliban
DOD: MG Taylor: By the end of the day, we expect nearly 3,000-3,500 total Troops on the ground. As of 1535 local time, the air field was open for operations. Shortly after, the first C-17 landed with US Marines on board. The next C17 is preparing to land as we speak.
President Details Role of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan
AUG. 16, 2021 | BY DAVID VERGUN, President Joe Biden today addressed the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban and the actions U.S. troops are now taking to facilitate the departure of allies and Afghan partners. He spoke from the White House.
Troops are working to secure the Hamid Karzai International Airport to enable their safe departure, he said.
“Over the coming days we intend to transport out thousands of American citizens who have been living and working in Afghanistan, while also continuing to support the safe departure of civilian personnel of our allies who are still serving in Afghanistan,” he said.
Within the coming days, the U.S. military will assist with moving special immigrant visa-eligible Afghans and their families out of Afghanistan, he said, adding that there are others who will be eligible for movement out of the country as well.
“American troops are performing this mission as professionally and effectively as they always do. But it is not without risks. As we carry out this departure, we have made it clear to the Taliban that if they attack our personnel or disrupt our operation, the U.S. response will be swift and forceful. We will defend our people with devastating force if necessary,” he said.
“I cannot and will not ask our troops to fight on endlessly in another country’s civil war, taking casualties, suffering life-shattering injuries, leaving families broken by grief and loss. This is not in our national security interest and it is not what the American people want,” he said, explaining the rationale for departure.
Taliban Take Kabul, U.S. Troops Arrive to Facilitate Departures by Jim Garamone
Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban, and U.S. troops now in the country are working to secure Hamid Karzai International Airport to enable the safe departure of U.S., allied and Afghan partners from the country.
News reports show many Taliban in the streets, some toting American weapons. Other videos show Taliban patrolling the streets in Humvees.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul is closed and President Ashraf Ghani has fled Afghanistan.
Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, met with Taliban leaders in Doha, Qatar.
“I’m not going to detail the specifics of that discussion … but I can tell you that the general was very clear in his discussions with Taliban leaders that any attack on our people, or operations at the airport would be met, swiftly, with a very forceful response,” Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said today at the Pentagon.
U.S. operations in Kabul are centered at the airport. “We are working to reestablish security at Hamid Karzai International Airport following breaches overnight that emanated from the civilian side of the airfield,” Kirby said. “At this time, out of an abundance of caution, there are no flights coming or going, military or civilian.”
This is due to the large crowds on the southern side of the airfield. U.S. troops are working with Turkish soldiers and troops from other partner nations to clear the tarmac of the crowds so air operations can resume, Kirby said. There have been at least two incidents, Kirby said, and two armed Afghans were killed by U.S. troops.
American forces continue to flow into Kabul as part of this non-combatant evacuation operation.
“Currently, there are approximately 2,500 U.S. troops at the airport,” the press secretary said. “Over the next 24 hours we expect additional forces to arrive from both the 82nd Airborne Division and a battalion from a Marine Expeditionary Unit. That should bring our force level to over 3,000.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has ordered another battalion of the 82nd Airborne to deploy directly to Kabul. The battalion was scheduled to be part of the quick reaction force in Kuwait.
Kirby repeated a notice from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul that “all U.S. citizens, special immigrant visa applicants, and others should shelter in place until security can be re-established at the airfield and an orderly process can be established to marshal them onto the field and to get them out of the country.”
U.S. forces have taken over air traffic control in Kabul.
Once order is restored at the airfield, those seeking refuge will leave via commercial, charter or military aircraft. Almost 2,000 Afghans have relocated to the United States already under the program.
Afghans who have cleared security screening will continue to be transferred directly to the United States. Those who have not completed the screening process, will transfer to a third country.
More than 800,000 American service members have served in Afghanistan since October 2001. A total of 2,352 American service members died in Afghanistan, and more than 20,000 were wounded.
Kirby was asked a number of times if the collapse of the Afghan government forces was a surprise after 20 years of U.S. and coalition training. “You can resource. You can train. You can support. You can advise. And you can assist,” he said. “But you cannot buy ‘will.’ You cannot purchase leadership. And leadership was missing.”