Taliban seize control of Kabul airport after US withdrawal

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Taliban have taken control of Hamid Karzai International Airport following the withdrawal of all US military personnel.

Scores of aircraft and armored vehicles along with a rocket defense system were disabled by the US military before leaving on Monday.

The Central Command’s General Kenneth McKenzie said that 73 aircraft were rendered useless by the time airlift operations were completed.

“Those aircraft will never fly again… They’ll never be able to be operated by anyone,” he said. “Most of them are non-mission capable to begin with. But certainly they’ll never be able to be flown again.”

General says hundreds of US citizens still in Afghanistan
General Kenneth McKenzie says the were still US citizens numbering in the “very low hundreds” in Afghanistan.

McKenzie said there had been no US civilians on the last few flights out of Kabul.

As the commander in charge of the withdrawal and evacuation mission McKenzie said: “The military phase of this operation has ended. The diplomatic sequel to that will now begin.” He said there would be aggressive negotiations to get Afghan partners out of the country.

US president to make national address

US President Joe Biden said he would make a national address on Tuesday after 20 years of war in Afghanistan.

“Tomorrow afternoon, I will address the American people on my decision not to extend our presence in Afghanistan beyond August 31,” he said.

His announcement came shortly after the Pentagon confirmed that the last US military aircraft had taken off from Kabul.

The president praised the military for its part in the evacuations in Kabul. Biden also said the global community must make sure the Taliban honored its pledges to let people leave.

“The international community expects the Taliban to deliver on moving forward, notably freedom of travel. The Taliban has made commitments on safe passage and the world will hold them to their commitments,” Biden said.

US general says Taliban were ‘helpful’

The US General in charge of the final evacuation said the Taliban had been” significantly helpful” in the effort to airlift those who were eligible to leave the country. General Frank McKenzie did however say that the militant group would “reap what they sowed.”

McKenzie was referring to the so-called Islamic State fighters who the Taliban had recently freed from prisons and now number in the region of 2000.

Taliban declare Afghanistan independent following US withdrawal

There are reports of celebratory gunfire in Afghanistan’s capital city, Kabul, following the confirmed withdrawal of US troops.

“Tonight at 12:00 am Afghan time, the remaining American troops left Kabul airport and our country gained full independence,” Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesman tweeted.

AFP correspondents reported hearing celebratory gunfire at checkpoints in the city. Unconfirmed videos shared on social media showed Taliban fighters firing into the air.

Last US troops leave Afghanistan — Pentagon

The US military has announced the the last of its troops have left Afghanistan after an almost 20-year campaign.

“I’m here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Central Command Commander General Kenneth McKenzie said. Hamid Karzai International Airport has been the scene of chaos, death, and panic following the Taliban’s capture of Kabul.

Allied countries had to scramble to airlift more than 122,000 people out of the country.

UN Security Council calls for Taliban to honor pledges

The UN Security Council has urged the Taliban to let people leave Afghanistan following the US withdrawal. It was not a united voice, however. Russia and China abstained from voting and did not veto the measure. The Taliban have said they would allow normal travel after taking control of the airport.

(AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)