The Biden administration to begin evacuation flights in late July for Afghans who have aided the U.S. military.
The top U.S. general in Afghanistan, Scott Miller, returned from Afghanistan to Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday after he handed over his command at a ceremony in Kabul on Monday.Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, center, greets Gen. Scott Miller, the former top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, as Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley stands at left, upon Miller's return, July 14, 2021, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
The administration also has not specified when flights will depart, citing security concerns, but the senior administration official told ABC News that they will meet Biden's commitment to begin flights by late July. There are approximately 18,000 Afghans who have applied for Special Immigrant Visas, with many of them now fearing for their lives as the Taliban gain more districts in a summer offensive against the Afghan government. Within that group, 9,000 still have to complete their applications while the other half are having their cases adjudicated now, according to a State Department spokesperson.
But as U.S. and NATO forces exit, the Taliban have seized dozens of districts in a summer offensive that has killed hundreds of Afghan service members or seen them surrender. The Pentagon said this week it seems apparent the militant group is intent on taking power by force, even as the State Department calls for them to return to negotiations with the Afghan government, hosted by Qatar in its capital Doha.
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.
Biden administration to begin evacuating Afghans who aided US military in late JulyThe Biden administration has announced it will begin evacuation flights in late July for Afghans who have aided the U.S. military.
Read more »
Biden directs evacuation flights for Afghan interpreters to begin late JulyPresident Biden has directed evacuation flights for Afghan interpreters and other nationals who helped the U.S. military during the 20-year conflict beginning in late July
Read more »
Trump hammers Obama for going to baseball game with Castro, urges Biden not to play nice'Remember when Obama attended baseball games with Castros while they imprisoned, beat, and killed the Cuban people,' Trump said as protests flare up in Cuba again.
Read more »
Biden now has a Cuba puzzle even as China showdown sizzles'The US was already trying to deal with one headache in its hemisphere following the assassination of Haiti's President. Now it has a Cuba conundrum,' writes StCollinson | Analysis
Read more »
Biden says U.S. stands with Cuban protesters, but officials deflect policy criticismBiden pledges to stand with Cuban protesters and calls on Havana to refrain from a violent crackdown. But U.S. officials deflect criticism for lag in policy changes.
Read more »
Biden changes up the messaging strategy around his infrastructure agendaPresident Joe Biden is once more placing his initiatives under the umbrella of “Build Back Better” after critique from Democrats that his agenda was becoming ill-defined
Read more »