The chaos continues
As Afghan civilians look to flee the city of Kabul and the rest of the country as Afghanistan falls deeper into the hands of the Taliban and tensions rise.
At least five people have already been reported dead inside the airport and while the details surrounding the incidents have not yet been released, there are multiple videos showing shots being fired by US troops as they attempt to control the crowds.
Airport in #Kabul… Listen .. #kabulairport #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/0hsDWNqOFS
— Natalie Amiri (@NatalieAmiri) August 16, 2021
Thousands of displaced civilians have flooded the airports, attempting to get onboard the last flights out of the city, with scenes of them climbing on top of each other in order to clamber airbridges in an attempt to cram into the plane.
Several clips show hundreds chasing planes down the runway in a last-ditch effort to cling on to departing aircraft.
Kabil Havalimanı..
Yüzlerce Afgan inen uçağın peşinden yürüyor. #Afganistan pic.twitter.com/IsLZeuLlRQ
— Yaser Emre (@yasiremres) August 16, 2021
This is the scene just outside the Hamid Karzai airport in the country’s capital; you can hear the US troops’ machine-gun fire ringing out over panicked heads as they sprint towards the terminal.
Gunfire heard near Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport as crowd of Afghan civilians rushes toward terminal https://t.co/pMMPoBA89V
— Factal News (@factal) August 16, 2021
While both British and US troops are currently in place at the airport to both help with the evacuation and deter any possible Taliban attack, it is clear that their main goal is to secure the airport first and foremost.
Afghan outlet TOLONews also posted a video to social media which shows an onlooker filming US troops that are posted up in positions around the airport, weapons at the ready.
Video shows US forces' presence at Kabul airport as crowds of Afghans gather in attempt to leave country. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/T4CD092A0u
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 16, 2021
Related links
- Troubling video shows Taliban celebrating inside Afghanistan presidential palace
- Taliban enter outskirts of Kabul in move to retake whole of Afghanistan
- Last remaining British troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan
