Commercial flights cancelled from Kabul airport due to chaos

The Afghan capital, Kabul, has seen an unusual rush of people seeking travel abroad from the country’s largest airport since the Taliban took control last night, following reports of a security situation there.

U.S. airport security personnel conducted aerial firing to control the chaotic rush.

Seeing the situation getting out of control, the management of Hamid Karzai International Airport has announced that all commercial flights from Kabul will be cancelled until further notice so that people do not turn to the airport for travel abroad.

This could become Fall of Saigon 2.0 or worse — the Fall of Kabul and the massive throngs of people trying to flee at Kabul Airport. Can’t blame them. Where are the international support to send passenger jets to airlift them all out?! #Kabul pic.twitter.com/GamVlDejdJ

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— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) August 16, 2021

At least five civilians have been reported killed due to the direct firing of the US military at Kabul airport.

According to foreign media, the US troops stationed at the airport opened fire to disperse the crowd, injuring several civilians.

Reports further added that 5 people were killed and many others were injured in the firing of American soldiers.

In the video released on Iranian media, it can be seen that the bodies of three people are lying on the airport premises.

At Kabul airport, there were a large number of people leaving the country, who were also running on the runway.

It is said that the US military opened fire to disperse the crowd. Eyewitnesses have confirmed that at least five people were killed.

به دنبال انتشار خبرها درباره حمله آمریکایی‌ها به مردم افغانستان در فرودگاه کابل و کشته‌شدن چند نفر، یک مقام آمریکایی گفته نیروهای این کشور مجبور شدند برای دور کردن مردم از هواپیماهای نظامی، تیراندازی هوایی کنند. https://t.co/kd48LPMvrm pic.twitter.com/FjSNzRSb7h

— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) August 16, 2021

on the other hand, the United States said in a statement on Monday that it had relocated about 500 of its nearly 4,000 employees at its embassy in Kabul.

The State Department and the Department of Defense have stated in a joint statement that they have completed security measures at Kabul Airport.

The goal is to ensure the safe transfer of American employees. According to the statement, the US military has secured the capital’s airport compound for the evacuation process.

In addition, thousands of American citizens will be evacuated in the coming days.

The joint statement said the United States would increase its security to 6,000 troops to complete the evacuation process.

It is noteworthy that the administration of US President Joe Biden has decided to send 1000 additional troops to the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday.

The Pentagon has made the decision to help evacuate after the fall of the government, according to the Washington Post.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has made it clear that Washington never expected the Taliban to advance so quickly.

It should be noted that within a few hours of the Taliban entering Kabul, the administration of the capital was officially handed over to them. The development came after security forces fled.

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