This photo taken on May 8, 2018, shows people arriving at the domestic terminal of the Hamid Karzai International Airport of Kabul. (Photo by Dominique FAGET / AFP) (Photo credit should read DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP via Getty Images)
Chaos continue in Hamid Karzai International Airport in the Afghan capital, Kabul, as thousands of US troops attempt to evacuate local collaborators.
On August 18, Afghan sources said that evacuation planes are leaving nearly empty because many locals who are illegible for evacuation were not able to reach the airport due to the Taliban heavy presence in Kabul. The group’s fighters established many checkpoints in the city over the last few days.
The situation didn’t improve on August 19. Shoots continue to be heard in the airport. Both US troops and Taliban fighters, who are present just outside the airport, have been shooting in the air to disturb the thousands of people attempting to storm into the airport to secure a seat on an evacuation plan.
Disturbing Scene; this happens almost few times a day in different sides of the Kabul Airport.#kabulairport #Afghanistan#AfghanWomen pic.twitter.com/lGfRzPPvS3
— Aisha Ahmad (@AishaTaIks) August 19, 2021
#KabulAirport #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/anksV7dcVO
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 19, 2021
Furthermore, F-15 warplanes of the US Air Force were spotted patrolling the sky over Hamid Karzai International Airport for the first time.
Jets continue to hover over the skies of Kabul even now – Gunfire in intervals too continues near the airport. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/tQtfPUAc0x
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) August 19, 2021
Many in the US are currently criticizing the chaotic evacuation plan and calling to hold Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of the Central Command, and Austin S. Miller, final commander of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission and United States Forces in Afghanistan, accountable for this failure.
The three generals opted to evacuate Bagram Air Base early on in the withdrawal, leaving Hamid Karzai International Airport as the only evacuation point.
“KIA” indeed. To be clear, General Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff “approved” the proposal by @CENTCOM Gen. McKenzie & then @USFOR_A Gen. Miller to shut down Bagram and rely on Kabul airport. Hold them accountable. Milley and McKenzie should resign or be fired. https://t.co/mxe1COsIE1
— Bill Roggio (@billroggio) August 18, 2021
Meanwhile, the situation in Kabul remains unstable. On August 19, the Taliban clashed with dozens of civilians who marched in the street of the capital to celebrate the country’s independence day.
The locals raised the flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan which provoked Taliban fighters. As for now, no fatalities have been reported.
Afghans braving Taliban violence to mark Independence Day in #Afghanistan
Reports of Taliban firing into crowds, beating people who are marching and waving national flags
In many places, Taliban have replaced Afghanistan’s black, red, and green flags with their own white flags. pic.twitter.com/aMISVmK1K1
— Frud Bezhan فرود بيژن (@FrudBezhan) August 19, 2021
Afghans erecting national flag in Abdul Haq square in #Kabul, in defiance of Taliban
The militants have replaced the black, red, and green national flag with their own white flags across #Afghanistan
But Afghans are braving threats, possible violence to mark Independence Day pic.twitter.com/xtFKL9ygxh
— Frud Bezhan فرود بيژن (@FrudBezhan) August 19, 2021
Since the beginning of Operation Allies Refuge, the codename for the US evacuation process, at least six Afghan civilians have been killed. The evacuation, which is being facilitated by 5,000 US troops, will likely take longer than what was expected.
