What's the Status of the Evacuation From Kabul, Afghanistan?

UPDATE 8/30/21

• The U.S. concluded its military evacuation from Afghanistan the afternoon of August 30th (U.S. time), shortly after midnight of August 31st in Kabul, when the final flight of American troops left the country. It's been estimated that a number of American civilians "in the low hundreds" remain in Afghanistan, along with thousands of Afghan allies at-risk of reprisals by the Taliban.
• Roughly 116,700 people, including about 6,000 Americans, were evacuated by the U.S., NATO, and other coalition members since August 14th.

What’s the story?

• The Taliban completed its bid to topple Afghanistan’s government over the weekend, and a rushed evacuation of American and third country civilians, Afghans endangered by the Taliban’s takeover, foreign aid workers, and military personnel is underway in Kabul.
• We will update this post periodically as more information about the situation at the airport, the security situation, and the status of the evacuation becomes available. (Most recent update: Sunday evening U.S. time with evacuation totals, and information about the 13 servicemembers killed in Thursday's terror attack.)

Evacuation Progress

• The Pentagon reported that as of the morning of Monday, August 30th, a total of 1,200 people were evacuated from Kabul in the prior 24 hours. That brings the total number of evacuees since August 14th to about 116,700 people.
• The Pentagon reported that as of the morning of Sunday, August 29th, 32 military flights evacuated 2,200 people and 9 coalition flights evacuated 700 people in the last 24 hours. That brings the total number of evacuees since August 14th to about 114,400 people. NATO on Saturday notified people seeking evacuation that it has concluded its evacuation operations, but that it will keep lists of those seeking evacuations so that their relationship with NATO can be noted in future immigration or visa consideration.
• The Pentagon reported that as of the morning of Saturday, August 28th, 32 military flights evacuated about 4,000 people and 34 coalition flights evacuated 2,800 people in the last 24 hours. That brings the total number of evacuees since August 14th to about 111,000.
• The Pentagon reported that as of the morning of Friday, August 27th, 35 military flights evacuated 8,500 people and 54 coalition flights evacuated 4,000 people in the prior 24 hours. That brings the total number of evacuees since August 14th to about 105,000.
• The Pentagon reported that as of the morning of Thursday, August 26th, 17 military flights evacuated 5,100 people in the prior 24 hours, while 74 coalition aircraft evacuated 8,300 people. That brings the total number of evacuees since August 14th to 95,700 people.
• The Pentagon reported that as of the morning of Wednesday, August 25th, 42 military flights evacuated 11,200 people in the prior 24 hours, while 48 coalition aircraft evacuated an additional 7,800 people. That brings the total number of evacuees to about 82,000 since August 14th.
• The Pentagon reported that as of the morning of Tuesday (8/24), 37 military flights evacuated 12,700 people over the last 24 hours, while 57 coalition flights evacuated 8,900 people. That brings the total number of evacuees since August 14th to over 58,000.
• The Pentagon reported that as of the morning of Monday (8/23, about 16,000 people were evacuated from Kabul on 28 military flights and 61 charter or commercial flights in the prior 24 hours (including 11,000 on U.S. military aircraft). That brings the total number of evacuees since August 14th to about 37,000. The Biden administration has reportedly estimated that roughly 4,000 Americans have been evacuated.
• The Pentagon reported on the morning of Sunday (8/22), that about 7,800 people were evacuated from Kabul in the prior 24 hours. That brings the total since August 14th to just over 25,000. In the 24 hours prior to the morning of Saturday (8/21), the Pentagon reported that six U.S. military C-17 and 32 charter flights evacuated 3,800 people from Kabul. That brings the total since August 14th to about 17,000. The DOD reported Friday morning (8/20) that 5,700 people were evacuated on 16 C-17 flights in the last 24 hours, bringing the total since August 14th to 12,700. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar is at its maximum capacity, so evacuation flights will now be landing at Isa Air Base in Bahrain, other bases in the Persian Gulf, Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and other locations.
• The DOD reported Thursday (8/19) morning that 2,000 people were evacuated by military aircraft over the last 24 hours in the prior 24 hours, including 300 Americans. That brings the total number of people evacuated since the weekend to roughly 7,000. As of Wednesday afternoon (8/18), the State Dept. said that about 2,000 people have been evacuated, bringing the total to 4,800 over the last several days. As of Tuesday (8/17), the White House reports that 3,200 people have been evacuated in total. On Tuesday (8/17), roughly 1,100 U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and family members were evacuated on 13 flights. On Monday (8/16), there were over 700 people evacuated according to the White House, including 150 U.S. citizens, in addition to Afghans, and citizens of third countries.

Who is securing the airport?

• As of Saturday, August 28th, about 4,000 American troops remain in Kabul according to the Pentagon. Several coalition countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Poland, and Spain have completed their withdrawal from Kabul.
• As of Tuesday, August 24th, the U.S. has begun to withdraw some military personnel, with several hundred in supporting roles withdrawn to date. Over 5,000 American troops remain in Kabul according to the Pentagon.
• As of Saturday, August 21st, the U.S. has authorized roughly 6,000 military personnel to deploy to Kabul, and about 5,800 troops are on the ground securing the airport with some remaining personnel reportedly en route. 
• The American contingent includes two Marine infantry battalions from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, plus one Minnesota Army National Guard combined arms battalion who were ordered to Kabul last week; three battalions of the 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers who were ordered to Kabul as the situation deteriorated; plus one infantry battalion from the 10th Mountain Division. Additionally, a specialized air command team is being deployed to Kabul, and special forces are reportedly in Kabul as well. The 650 to 1,000 personnel already in Afghanistan when the evacuation intensified last week have reportedly been withdrawn.
• Additionally, there are about 600 troops from the former Afghan Defense Forces (who the State Dept. has said can apply for Special Immigrant Visas); roughly 600 British paratroopers, soldiers, and special forces; 600 Turkish military personnel helping with security at the airport; an unknown number of French special forces; and an unknown number of special forces from other coalition nations.
• British and French special forces have been traveling into Kabul to retrieve citizens and Afghan allies, and as of Thursday (8/19), the U.S. has begun to do the same in certain circumstances, with three Army Chinook helicopters evacuating 169 people trapped in a hotel several blocks away from the airport. Several other U.S.-led evacuations have occurred outside of the airport as of August 25th.
• Air support is provided by land-based aircraft flying from bases in the Persian Gulf, with additional support available in the form of the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group and the USS Iwo Jima amphibious ready group, both in the Arabian Sea. The Pentagon reports that armed aircraft have been carrying out overwatch flights in case the situation deteriorates. 
• Commanders on the ground are in communication with the Taliban about securing access to the airport for evacuees who have been sheltering in place. U.S. Central Command General Frank McKenzie has visited the airport in Kabul and warned the Taliban that any attempt to interfere with the evacuation will “be met with overwhelming force in the defense of our forces.”

Who needs to be evacuated?

• American Citizens: The White House stated Tuesday, August 17th, that there are at least 11,000 people in Afghanistan who have self-identified as U.S. citizens seeking evacuation, although it’s possible more will come forward as the situation evolves and some estimates have pegged the number at 15,000. These figures likely include the 1,400 U.S. Embassy staff who evacuated from the now-shuttered embassy to the airport, some of whom are helping to process paperwork for Afghans at the airport. It’s unclear how many of these Americans are outside of Kabul or the airport perimeter. As of August 25th, the State Dept. estimates that there are about 1,500 American citizens remaining in Afghanistan.
• American Military: There are at least 3,500 U.S. troops on the ground at Kabul International Airport as of Tuesday, August 17th, which may rise to 7,000 based on current force authorizations. They will likely be among the last to leave.
• Afghan SIVs: At the beginning of the withdrawal, there were 18,000 Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) due to their work for the U.S. to be evacuated, plus at least 53,000 immediate family members. Other estimates have suggested that there could be over 20,000 primary SIV applicants plus 80,000 family members. It’s unknown at this time how many of those people are at Kabul airport, and how many will need to pass through Taliban checkpoints to be evacuated. About 2,000 have been evacuated in recent weeks prior to the fall of Kabul.
• Afghans At-Risk of Persecution: It’s possible that additional Afghans beyond those who have been in the SIV application process will be evacuated due to the threat of persecution or execution by the Taliban, although no estimate of that figure has been made available. 
• Third-Country Civilians: The U.S. is assisting with the evacuation of civilians from third countries, but the Biden administration hasn’t specified how many have been or are expected to be evacuated on American aircraft during the airlift.
• Foreign Military: It’s unclear what role the U.S. will play in the evacuation of NATO military personnel at the airport or when they will be evacuated, although it’s possible they will remain with U.S. and Afghan troops until the end of the evacuation. 

What is the situation at the airport?

• Following the U.S. withdrawal from Bagram Air Base, which is about 25 miles away from Kabul and has since been seized by the Taliban, Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul has the only runway being used in the airlift evacuation. 
• On Thursday, August 26th, an ISIS suicide bombing attack at one of the airport's gates killed 13 American troops, wounded at least 18 more, along with killing more than 100 Afghan civilians. The Pentagon released the names of the fallen U.S. servicemembers on Saturday, August 28th.
• The State Dept. has warned potential evacuees that the U.S. government can’t guarantee their safety as they make the trip to the airport. The State Dept. is communicating with evacuees about when to go to the airport, but has warned that gates may be opened or closed with little advance notice due to the security situation. On Saturday, August 21st, the State Dept. warned Americans to leave the exterior of the airport or not travel there unless instructed by the agency due to threats of terrorism posed by the Islamic State and/or al Qaeda.
• The Taliban has encircled the airport and set up checkpoints on roads leading to it. On August 24th, the Taliban announced that it will not allow Afghans to enter the airport and be evacuated from the country.
• There are reports that the Taliban is intimidating and beating people attempting to pass through those checkpoints. Some have been allowed through, while others have been obstructed and turned away. In some cases, Afghan parents have been passing their children to American servicemembers over the barbed wire to ensure their safety. Elsewhere in Kabul and Afghanistan at large, the Taliban are reportedly rounding up Afghans who worked with the U.S. for reprisals and potential execution, abducting children for forced marriages, and informing women not to return to school or work.
• As of August 23rd, the Taliban reportedly has not engaged in hostile acts against U.S. and coalition forces securing the airport, but several shootings have occurred. Early on the morning of Monday, August 23rd, a hostile actor opened fire on Afghan security forces, killing one Afghan soldier and wounding several other Afghans during the exchange, which U.S. and German troops were also involved in. The wounded are reportedly in stable condition and are being treated at the airport hospital. On August 16th, American military personnel reportedly shot and killed two Afghans who opened fire on the crowd. One U.S. Marine was reportedly grazed by a bullet but remained at the airport.
• Flight operations by American and allied military transport aircraft have been ongoing with the runway and tarmac secured since August 17th, after operations were paused to secure the airport, and civilian air traffic is underway as well. The Dept. of Defense is aiming to process at least one military transport flight per hour within 24 hours. That pace would allow for the evacuation of between 5,000 and 9,000 people per day, according to the Pentagon’s estimates.

What has been happening at the airport:

• On Sunday (8/15) and Monday (8/16), frightened Afghans attempting to flee crowded the tarmac and runway at the airport, which caused temporary pauses in the evacuation process. U.S. personnel reportedly shot and killed two armed people at the airport during the period where Afghans were on the tarmac, but no other incidents have been reported since.
• Several Afghans have died as the evacuation has played out, including two who fell to their deaths after clinging to a military transport plane’s landing gear as it took off, and another who was found crushed to death in the landing gear. The status of another Afghan who was pictured clinging to the side of a C-17 as it climbed through the clouds after takeoff is unknown. Others have been crushed in the crowd outside the airport, including seven who died in a crush of people Sunday according to the British military, while others have died of dehydration and exposure, or been killed by the Taliban.
• One C-17 from the 436th Air Wing, callsign “Reach 871”, departed Kabul Sunday with 823 people in its cargo bay after panicked Afghans pulled themselves onto its half-open ramp. The crew chose to take off despite the C-17’s normal capacity being 150 troops with their equipment. According to The Warzone, that broke the record for most passengers carried by a single Boeing aircraft. Thanks to the courage and skill of those aviators, the C-17 landed safely at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

RELATED READING

• President Biden Delivers Remarks Defending Afghanistan Withdrawal Amid Taliban Takeover, Kabul Evacuation (8/16/21)
• Taliban Takes Kabul: U.S. Embassy Shuttered, Afghans Crowd Airport Hoping for Evacuation (8/15-16/21)
• Taliban Makes Rapid Gains in Afghanistan, U.S. Sends 3,000 Troops to Secure Drawdown of Embassy Staff (8/12/21)
• Afghans Who Aided U.S. Military Against the Taliban Begin to Arrive in America as Evacuation Ramps Up (7/30/21)
• Biden Moves Up Afghanistan Withdrawal Date From September 11th to August 31st (7/8/21)
• U.S. Military Withdraws From Bagram Air Base as Afghanistan Drawdown Continues (7/3/21)
• Biden Urged to Expedite Visas for Afghan Interpreters Facing Taliban Death Threats or There Will Be ‘Blood on His Hands’ After U.S. Withdrawal (6/22/21)
• Biden Sets September 11th Withdrawal Date From Afghanistan, Drawing Bipartisan Criticism (4/14/21)

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: U.S. C-17 in Kabul: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matt Davis via NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan Flickr / Creative Commons | Taliban: SeHi via Flickr / Creative Commons)