U.S. Is Starting To Evacuate Some Embassy Staff From Afghanistan With Military Help

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August 13th, 2021

An additional 3000 U.S. troops are heading to Afghanistan to assist with the evacuation efforts, according to the Pentagon. Three infantry battalions are expected to arrive at Kabul’s international airport in the next 24-48 hours.Afghan personnel are pictured in May, guarding the Green Zone, which houses embassies.

Rahmat Gul / AP

Updated August 12, 2021 at 7:10 PM ET

The U.S. is evacuating a “significant” number of employees from its embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, as Taliban forces gain ground across the country.

The State Department announced on Thursday it is reducing its civilian footprint of roughly 4,000 personnel to a “core diplomatic presence” given the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

“Our embassy remains open and our diplomatic mission will endure,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at a news briefing.

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