But, right now, the Defense Department is busy getting American citizens, Afghans with special immigrant visa applications in process, and other vulnerable Afghans out of the country. And that will continue to be the No. 1 priority right up until the very end, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
“Lives are always going to be the priority … period,” Kirby told reporters at a press conference today at the Pentagon. “As we get closer to the end, there will be some equipment and systems that we will probably take with us as we leave … but lives will always be the chief priority throughout this entire process.”
In the past 24 hours, 90 flights left Hamid Karzai International Airport carrying about 19,000 people, Army Maj. Gen. William D. “Hank” Taylor, the Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations, said.
Of those flights, around half were U.S. military aircraft, including 37 C-17 Globemaster III missions and five C-130 Hercules missions. Other U.S. aircraft carried about 11,200 passengers.
“These numbers are a testament to the hard-working and brave service members, carrying out this mission,” he said. “Our focus is continuing to get as many people out as efficiently and safely as possible.”
As of Wednesday morning, Taylor said, there were 10,000 individuals waiting at Hamid Karzai International Airport to leave the country.
To date, about 88,000 have safely departed Afghanistan, and some have already made their way to the United States. Yesterday, five flights carrying 1,200 passengers landed at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. Today, six flights carrying 1,800 Afghans will leave Germany for the United States, Taylor said.
“As part of this process, these individuals completed biometric vetting and screening in accordance with the FBI, NCTC and Customs and Border Control standards, all directed by the Department of Homeland Security,” Taylor said. “We are working around the clock to provide safe, sanitary and appropriate receptions at processing at all of our locations throughout the world.”
BY C. TODD LOPEZ, DOD NEWS