The United States has evacuated nearly 17,000 people from Afghanistan since August 14 when the Taliban reached Kabul, and approximately 3,800 in the past 24 hours.
In all, approximately 22,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the end of July.
US Army Major General William “Hank” Taylor, the deputy director of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, said at a press briefing on Saturday that in the last 24 hours, 6 U.S. Military C-17s and 32 charters departed Kabul.
He said the total passenger count for those 38 flights was approximately 3,800.
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Friday pledged to evacuate all Americans stuck in Afghanistan and Afghan citizens who helped U.S. troops during the war.
On Saturday morning, the President met with his national security team, with the Vice President Kamala D. Harris, joining by secure video teleconference while she was en route to Singapore.
A White House official said they discussed the security situation in Afghanistan and counter-terrorism operations, including ISIS-K, as well as the massive logistical operation to evacuate American citizens and their families, SIV applicants and their families, and vulnerable Afghans both on US military aircraft as well as flight charters and coalition flights.
The national security team discussed the aggressive efforts to finalize agreements with additional third-party country transit hubs.
“The President and Vice President were joined by Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, Chairman Milley, Director Haines, Director Burns, National Security Advisor Sullivan, Ambassador Wilson, General McKenzie, Admiral Vasely, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Finer, Homeland Security Advisor Sherwood-Randall, and other senior officials,” the official said.
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.