LATEST: Taliban forces advance closer to Kabul as Afghan Pres. Ashraf Ghani rejects suggestions he might resign in his first appearance since the rapid offensive.
"There wasn't one precipitating event in the last couple of days that led the president and the secretary to make this decision.
As the Taliban gained ground Friday, Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense, a senior fellow for the Middle East Institute, Afghanistan war veteran and ABC News national security analyst, called on the U.S. to reverse its decision to withdraw troops in order to"prevent the country's fall to the Taliban and the establishment of a safe haven for terrorist organizations.
The official also said the president separately spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken Thursday morning to discuss a diplomatic strategy and that Biden continued to be engaged on this issue and was staying in close contact with his team on the situation.State Department Spokesman Ned Price said the embassy in Kabul will remain open as it reduces its civilian footprint due to the"evolving security situation.
MORE: In urgent cable, US embassy calls on Washington to evacuate Afghan staffers threatened by Taliban A brigade of 3,000 to 3,500 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne will also be sent to Kuwait to preposition in case they are needed.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Embassies close, diplomats evacuated as Taliban advances on KabulA slew of foreign embassies close and continue to remove their diplomats from Afghanistan as the Taliban advances on Kabul.
Read more »
Sources: U.S. planning for a full embassy withdrawal as the Taliban close in on KabulIn some provinces, political, police and militia leaders have abandoned their posts after the Taliban promised them protection, according to reports.
Read more »
Afghans Despair Over Long Visa Process as Taliban Close In on Kabul'We are feeling in danger here. Please save our family.' Tens of thousands of Afghans who helped the U.S. during the war remain in Afghanistan awaiting processing and now face a desperate race to leave the country.
Read more »
Taliban close in on Kabul as US ramps up Afghan evacuationsThe Afghan Taliban tightened their territorial stranglehold around Kabul on Saturday, as refugees from the insurgents' relentless offensive flooded the capital and US Marines returned to oversee emergency evacuations from Afghanistan.
Read more »
Afghan-Americans Scramble to Aid Families as Taliban Threaten KabulRelatives in the U.S. are making a last-ditch effort to get their loved ones out of war-torn Afghanistan as the Taliban threaten Kabul, the capital.
Read more »
Taliban Seize Kandahar, Prepare to March on Afghan Capital KabulThe insurgents completed the seizure of Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second-largest city and the Islamist movement’s birthplace, and took into custody a warlord who organized the failed defenses of the western city of Herat.
Read more »