US Has Airlifted 7,000 People From Afghanistan: Pentagon

Since the United States seized the Kabul airport and started evacuations on August 14, "we have airlifted approximately 7,000 total evacuees," Major General Hank Taylor told a Pentagon briefing.

The United States has airlifted out of Afghanistan some 7,000 people fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country, a top general said Thursday. Since the United States seized the Kabul airport and started evacuations on August 14, "we have airlifted approximately 7,000 total evacuees," Major General Hank Taylor told a Pentagon briefing. He said a total of nearly 12,000 people have been moved out of Afghanistan since the end of July when the United States began speeding up departures as the Taliban swept through Afghanistan ahead of a US military withdrawal. "This increase is reflective of both a ramp-up of aircraft and airlift capability, faster processing of evacuees and greater information and fidelity in reporting," Taylor said.