Scene at Kabul
Airport Turns Chaotic, as Afghans Attempt
to Flee Taliban Takeover.
A day after the capital city fell to the Taliban.
Afghan residents stormed the
Kabul International Airport by the thousands.
President Joe Biden announced on Aug. 15 that an additional 1,000 U.S. troops would be deployed to the city.
in order to facilitate the evacuation
of thousands of U.S. officials and civilians.
The "most vulnerable" Afghans will also be evacuated, though it was unclear exactly who would be included.
While U.S. troops commanded control
of the airport.
Afghan civilians rushed entrances and
boarding gates in an attempt to gain access
to two civilian aircraft on the tarmac.
Some attempted to grab onto U.S. military planes
as they taxied the runway before take-off.
According to the Afghan Civil Aviation Authority, all civilian air travel in and out of the city has been halted.
It has pleaded with Kabul residents to
stay away from the airport.
The location is one of the few places that
remains outside of Taliban control, .
though photos showed armed
Taliban members observing the airport chaos.
The U.S. maintained a significant presence
in Afghanistan for 20 years.
Since the announcement of U.S. withdrawal, it has taken the Taliban roughly a month to seize every major city