The plan comes as the U.S. military seeks “creative ways” to get Americans out of Taliban territory.
The Pentagon is tapping commercial airlines to help with evacuations in Afghanistan as the situation grows more dire, activating the Civil Reserve Air Fleet for the third time in U.S. history. Here’s the need-to-know:
What’s the latest from President Biden?
“We’re working hard and as fast as we can to get people out,” Biden stressed yesterday. He added that U.S. “determination to get every American citizen home and to evacuate our Afghan allies is unwavering” — and said the August 31 deadline for removing all American troops may be extended.
Which airlines are taking part?
United Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, Omni Air, Hawaiian Airlines, and American Airlines will provide 18 planes in total. Biden promised the operation will have “no effect or a minimal effect on commercial air travel.”
Where will the planes go?
The planes won’t go into Kabul, and will instead fly to U.S. army bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, where they’ll be used to transport evacuees after they’ve been screened to parts of the U.S. and Europe.
How many people have been evacuated?
Up to 33,000 people have been rescued since July, but thousands more remain. At least seven Afghans — including a two-year-old — died on Saturday in a crush of people trying to get into Kabul airport. Almost 20 people are believed to have died in stampedes or from gunshots in the area in the last week.
For security reasons, the U.S. Embassy is warning Americans to steer clear of the area unless they receive specific instruction. “Any American who wants to get home, will get home,” Biden said.
