WRAP: Rockets target US troops as final Kabul withdrawal begins, core diplomats fly out

Record ID: 1634346

  • Title: WRAP: Rockets target US troops as final Kabul withdrawal begins, core diplomats fly out
  • Date: 30th August 2021
  • Summary: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AUGUST 30, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING AMONG BUILDINGS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND THE DESTROYED VEHICLE VARIOUS OF DESTROYED INTERIOR OF VEHICLE (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) KABUL RESIDENT, FAROGH DANISH, SAYING: "It was six o'clock in the morning when the sound of an explosion was heard here, and I came to see the area of the explosion. I think they fired at the airport from here. Unfortunately, most of the casualties are civilians and poor people." PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND DESTROYED VEHICLE, TRAFFIC PASSING (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) KABUL RESIDENT, FAROGH DANISH, SAYING: "The situation is people are terrified and worried about the future, worried that the rocket launching might continue." KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AUGUST 30, 2021) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MOSQUE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE / TRAFFIC ON STREET VEHICLE CARRYING TALIBAN FLAG MEN SELLING FRUITS STANDING NEXT TO THEIR FRUIT CARTS MAN WALKING ON SIDEWALK (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) KABUL RESIDENT, BORHAN NEZAMI, SAYING: "(Americans) launched an airstrike in Jalalabad (the capital of Nangarhar province), and yesterday, they did the same in Kabul and even confirmed that they had attacked ISIS. They do not have a legal license to carry out attacks in Afghanistan arbitrarily." (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) KABUL RESIDENT, MOHAMMAD NEMAN, SAYING: "The United States was here for 20 years to serve Afghanistan, but all the infrastructure it built was temporary and not permanent. When Russia came here, it built buildings for the people and the government that still stands, but the Americans destroyed everything they built before leaving the country, just like the government they built here. Our president fled before the United States left. Also, unemployment is so high that on every street, you can see about 50 unemployed people." (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) TAXI DRIVER, SHAFA KHAN, SAYING: "In my opinion, all young people are fleeing (from the country) now. If they (the Taliban and the politicians) come together, the youth will be willing to stay and obey the law, but given the current situation we see, no youth would like to stay in Kabul." KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AUGUST 30, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MILITARY AIRPLANES TAKING OFF / IN FLIGHT KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AUGUST 30, 2021) (REUTERS) SMOKE RISING FROM THE AIRPORT KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AUGUST 30, 2021) (REUTERS) CROWD OF PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE AZIZI BANK BUILDING EXTERIOR OF BUILDING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING POINT-OF-VIEW FROM CAR OF CONGESTED STREET POINT-OF-VIEW FROM CAR OF PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE THE FIRST MICROFINANCE BANK, CONGESTED STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) RESIDENT OF KABUL, SHAH AGHA, SAYING: "The working situation is zero because banks and exchange markets are closed. We call on the Islamic Emirate to build the Afghan economy as soon as possible so that the Afghans can come and start working again."
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2021 15:00
  • Keywords: Aghanistan Taliban U.S. forces airstrikes attacks evacuation military rockets
  • Location: VARIOUS
  • City: VARIOUS
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA002ESH1Y6F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: U.S. anti-missile defences intercepted rockets fired at Kabul's airport early on Monday (August 30), as the United States flew its core diplomats out of Afghanistan in the final hours of its chaotic withdrawal.
    U.S. troops are due to pull out of Kabul by Tuesday, after they and their allies mounted the biggest air evacuation in history, bringing 114,000 of their own citizens and Afghans who helped them over 20 years of war.
    Two U.S. officials said the "core" diplomatic staff had withdrawn on Monday morning. They did not say whether this included top envoy Ross Wilson, expected to be among the last to leave before the final troops themselves.
    A U.S. official said initial reports did not indicate any U.S. casualties from as many as five missiles fired on the airport. Islamic State - enemies of both the West and the Taliban - claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks.
    The rockets followed a massive Islamic State suicide bombing outside the teeming airport gates on Thursday, which killed scores of Afghans and 13 U.S. troops.
    In recent days, Washington has warned of more attacks, while carrying out two airstrikes against Islamic State targets, including one on Sunday it said thwarted an attempted suicide bombing by blowing up a car packed with explosives.
    Tuesday's deadline for all troops to leave was ordered by President Joe Biden, fulfilling an agreement reached with the Taliban by his predecessor Donald Trump to end Washington's longest war.
    But having failed to anticipate that the Taliban would so quickly conquer the country, Washington and its NATO allies were forced into a hasty evacuation. They will leave behind thousands of Afghans who helped Western countries and might have qualified for evacuation but did not make it out in time.
    The Taliban, who oppressed women and governed violently when last in power 20 years ago, have said they will safeguard rights and not pursue vendettas. They say that once the Americans leave, the country will, at last, be at peace for the first time in more than 40 years.
    But countless Afghans, especially in the cities, fear the militants will again prove as ruthless as before. And the United Nations said the entire country now faces a dire humanitarian crisis, cut off from foreign aid amid a drought, mass displacement, and COVID-19.
    Afghan media said Monday's rocket attack was launched from the back of a vehicle. The Pajhwok news agency said several rockets struck different parts of the Afghan capital.
    "People are terrified and worried about the future, worried that the rocket launching might continue," said Farogh Danish, a Kabul resident near the wreckage of the car from which the rockets were launched.
    On Sunday, Pentagon officials said a U.S. drone strike killed an Islamic State suicide car bomber preparing to attack the airport. The Taliban said seven people died in the blast. U.S. Central Command said it was investigating reports that civilians were killed.
    The Taliban will take full control of Kabul airport after the American withdrawal on Tuesday, Qatar's Al Jazeera television network cited an unidentified Taliban source as saying.
    (Production: Paul Warren, Dina Selim)
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