Afghanistan, the marines in Kabul to speed up the evacuation

US troops with three thousand Marines arrived in Kabul yesterday with the task of helping diplomatic personnel and other Americans to leave the country, while the Taliban are still camped about fifty kilometers from the Afghan capital, probably awaiting the completion of the evacuations from the embassies.

The UN Secretary General has warned that the situation is spiraling out of control with devastating consequences for civilians. So far more than 250,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and many of them have concentrated in Kabul, in parks or in makeshift housing.

Pentagon announcement: marines in Kabul

The Pentagon spokesperson, John Kirby, announced that “elements” of a battalion are now in Kabul to help the Americans and their Afghan colleagues leave the country quickly. The Taliban, encouraged by the imminent end of the US combat mission, took four more provincial capitals on Friday, positioning themselves 50 km from the capital. “It seems clear that they are isolating Kabul,” Kirby said during the briefing. The Pentagon also moved nearly 5,000 additional troops to bases in the Gulf of Qatar and Kuwait, including 1,000 to Qatar to speed up visa processing for Afghan translators and others who fear retaliation by the Taliban for their past collaboration. with the Americans.

Afghanistan, all there is to know about the new conflict

by Gabriella Colarusso

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August 13, 2021

The diplomatic corps in the capital

The US embassy – various international media reports – has called on staff to destroy any sensitive material present in the facilities, including brochures and flags that could be used for propaganda. The UK also announced the dispatch of 600 troops to help evacuate British citizens and former Afghan staff. Like Germany, it will keep the embassy open with staff to a minimum. Denmark and Norway, on the other hand, are closing their diplomatic representations entirely. Italy “ready to leave the country” just in case, announced Foreign Minister Di Maio.