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Operation Allies Refuge

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Operation Allies Refuge
Part of 2021 Taliban offensive and the War in Afghanistan (2001-present)
Temporary meal service and processing facilities for Afghan special immigrant applicants at Fort Lee, Virginia, July 2021
Location
Afghanistan
ObjectiveEvacuation of U.S. nationals, embassy staff, and allied Afghan nationals
DateAugust 13, 2021 – present
Executed by United States
OutcomeMore than 3,200 people evacuated
Casualties8 killed[1]
  • 6 Afghan civilian stowaways killed (one outside of Afghanistan)
  • 2 Afghan gunmen killed

Operation Allies Refuge is an ongoing United States military operation to airlift selected at-risk Afghan civilians, particularly translators, U.S. embassy employees, and other prospective Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants, from Afghanistan.[2][3] U.S. personnel also assisted NATO and regional allies in their respective evacuation efforts at Kabul International Airport.

Operational history

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transported approximately 640 Afghan citizens from Hamid Karzai International Airport Aug. 15, 2021.

On July 30, 2021, the first group of 200 Afghan interpreters arrived at Fort Lee, Virginia, for SIV processing with at least 20,000 SIV holders and applicants remaining in the process of being relocated.[2][4][5]

On August 12, following the deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan, the Biden administration announced that 3,000 U.S. troops would be deployed to the Kabul International Airport in order to secure the evacuation of embassy personnel, U.S. nationals and SIV applicants.[6][7] The operation's name was officially unveiled on August 14 by the Biden administration.[2][4] On August 15, following the fall of Kabul, the Pentagon and the State Department announced the expansion of the military presence at the airport to nearly 6,000 troops.[8] U.S. military took control over the air traffic control of the airport later in the day.[9] On August 16, a C-17 cargo plane, which usually includes less than 150 paratroopers, safely evacuated roughly 800 people to the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.[10]

On August 16, at least eight people were killed at the Kabul International Airport as thousands of people tried to forcibly board planes. At least two people were seen falling to their deaths from the sky after clinging to the landing gear of a departing C-17 cargo plane, while at least three people clinging to the side of an Air Force jet were killed after being run over.[11][12][13] Remains of another dead Afghan were found in the landing gear of the American C-17, after the pilots were forced to make an emergency landing in a nearby country because they were unable to retract the landing gear.[14][15][16] The Pentagon said that two armed men who fired into a crowd were killed by U.S. troops.[17][18]

The Pentagon confirmed the head of U.S. Central Command, General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., met Taliban leaders based in Qatar's capital Doha. The Taliban officials agreed to terms set by McKenzie for refugees to flee using Kabul Airport.[19][20]

On August 17, around 1,100 people were evacuated on 13 flights. The White House said more than 3,200 U.S. citizens, permanent residents and refugees were evacuated from the country, and nearly 2,000 Afghan interpreters were flown to the U.S. for SIV processing.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "U.S. officials say 7 people died during Kabul airport evacuation chaos". AP News. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Jamali, Naveed (July 14, 2021). "Biden to announce "Operation Allied Refuge" to airlift all eligible Afghans". Newsweek. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Losey, Stephen (July 15, 2021). "White House: 'Operation Allies Refuge' to Start Evacuating Afghans by End of July". Military.com.
  4. ^ a b News, A. B. C. "In urgent cable, US Embassy calls on Washington to evacuate Afghan staffers threatened by Taliban". ABC News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ Landay, Jonathan (July 30, 2021). "Airlift begins for Afghans who worked for U.S. during its longest war". Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021.
  6. ^ "US sending troops to help evacuate embassy staff in Kabul". www.aljazeera.com.
  7. ^ Martin, David (August 12, 2021). "Pentagon sending troops to Kabul to help evacuation of U.S. Embassy". CBS News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021.
  8. ^ Najafizada, Eltaf (August 16, 2021). "Chaotic Scenes Grip Kabul's Airport, With Reports of Deaths". Bloomberg. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  9. ^ Deese, Kaelan (August 16, 2021). "US forces take over air traffic control at Kabul airport for evacuations". Yahoo News. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  10. ^ Rogoway, Tyler (August 16, 2021). "800 People Evacuated From Kabul Aboard A Single C-17 Cargo Jet: Reports". The Drive. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  11. ^ "Desperate Afghans Fall From Sky After Clinging to Plane Leaving Kabul". Haaretz. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  12. ^ Shah, Saeed; Trofimov, Yaroslav (August 16, 2021). "Three Killed in Kabul Airport as Afghans Scramble to Escape Taliban". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  13. ^ Shah, Saeed; Trofimov, Yaroslav; Lubold, Gordon (August 16, 2021). "Violence Erupts at Kabul Airport as Afghans Try to Flee Taliban". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  14. ^ "Body of dead Afghan found in landing gear of military jet leaving Kabul airport". Politico. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  15. ^ Emily Crane (August 17, 2021). "Body of Afghan found in US military plane's landing gear". nypost.com. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  16. ^ Steinbuch, Yaron (August 17, 2021). "Man films himself clinging to US plane as it leaves Afghanistan". New York Post. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  17. ^ "US troops to stay until Americans and eligible Afghans evacuated, says Biden". The Guardian. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "Seven killed at Kabul airport as desperate Afghans scramble to escape". The Telegraph. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  19. ^ "US reaches deal with Taliban on evacuations: report". The Hill. August 16, 2021.
  20. ^ "US reaches deal with Taliban over evacuations from Kabul airport, report says". The Independent. August 16, 2021.
  21. ^ "White House Says 3,200 People Evacuated From Afghanistan – Expects Pace To 'Escalate'". Forbes. August 17, 2021.
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