US F-18s conducting 'overwatch' flights over Kabul to secure evacuations

The Pentagon said Thursday that the U.S. has been conducting armed “overwatch” flights over Kabul in the last 24 hours as an "added layer of force" to ensure the security of the U.S. mission to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies from the country after the Taliban takeover.

Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor on Thursday said Pentagon officials "continue to recognize the inherent danger of operating in this environment," maintaining, though, that U.S. troops are remaining "agile, professional, and are postured to continue the mission, and to respond if required."  "We will use all of the tools in our arsenal to achieve this goal," Taylor said, adding that the U.S. is "absolutely focused on this mission of national importance" and is "committed to the safe evacuation of as many people as quickly and as safely as possible."