US Deploys 3,000 Troops to Evacuate Afghan Embassy Staff... "Not a Complete Embassy Withdrawal"

All Non-Essential Personnel Withdrawn... 5,000 Gathered at Airport
UK Also Announces Deployment of 600 to Evacuate Nationals

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. government announced that it will temporarily deploy an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to evacuate the majority of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. While nearly all embassy personnel are reported to be evacuating, the U.S. government emphasized that this is not a complete withdrawal of the embassy. The UK is also expected to send an additional 600 troops to evacuate its remaining nationals in Afghanistan, leading to expectations that U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan will fully withdraw soon.

On the 12th (local time), John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, stated at a press briefing, "We plan to temporarily deploy a 3,000-strong unit to Afghanistan to assist in the safe evacuation of embassy staff." Kirby explained, "Three infantry battalions from the U.S. Central Command will be deployed first and will move to Kabul within 24 to 48 hours."

In response to speculation that the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan might be completely withdrawing, the U.S. State Department denied this. Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, emphasized at a press briefing, "This is not a full withdrawal. Reducing personnel should not be called an evacuation." He added, "We are adjusting staff numbers according to the security situation, and the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan will continue its diplomatic mission centered on core personnel."

However, it is reported that nearly all embassy staff in Afghanistan are already preparing to withdraw. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) official, reported, "About 5,000 military and civilian personnel are already preparing to depart from Kabul International Airport," and "Including U.S. and allied nationals, only about 20 people are expected to remain, with everyone else evacuating."

The UK also announced it will dispatch an additional 600 troops to assist in evacuating its remaining nationals in Afghanistan. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace stated at a press briefing, "Approximately 4,000 British nationals still remain in Afghanistan, and the government will do everything to ensure their safety," adding, "Additional troops will arrive within the next few days."

Meanwhile, the Taliban continued their rapid advance against the Afghan government forces and reportedly took control of Herat, one of Afghanistan’s three major cities, on the same day. According to AFP, the Taliban flag was raised at the police headquarters in Herat city. The Taliban also announced in a statement, "Government forces in Herat fled, and we seized dozens of military vehicles along with a large quantity of weapons and ammunition."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.