Turkish soldiers at Kabul airport
The German Bundeswehr claimed that one Afghan security official was killed, and three others were injured in firefight at the Kabul International Airport on 23 August.
The shooting took place near the northern gate of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport. According to German officials, U.S. and German forces were also involved in the battle.
“This morning at 4:13 p.m. CEST at the North Gate of the Kabul airport, a firefight between Afghan security forces and unknown attackers broke out. An Afghan security force member was killed and three others were wounded.” – the report reads.
No footage showing the firefight have been released to confirm the claims.
On August 21, the British Ministry of Defense confirmed the deaths of seven Afghans near the airport. They were allegedly killed in crowd, trying to break into the territory of the airport.
Following reports on new casualties, Washington tightened security measures at the airport.
Military forces were ordered to only let US and NATO citizens into the airport. Afghans who have applied for special immigrant visas to the US were told to stay away and wait for new reports.
“We are currently prioritizing American citizens and legal permanent residents for entry,” John Johnson, Public Affairs Officer for the US Embassy in Kabul, told CNN Monday. “Due to a deteriorating security environment we are asking all others not to come to the airport at this time — the gates remain closed.”
The U.S. forces have to hurry up as the Taliban confirmed that they would not agree to an extension of the evacuation mission from Afghanistan.
The move would mean “extending occupation” and that is “a red line”, Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban delegation in Doha, said.
However, fleeing forces hope for the extension of the deadline. According to the CNN report, leaders from the top foreign allies of the United States are going to ask Joe Biden to extend the deadline for US troops to withdraw from Afghanistan during a morning meeting on August 24.
According to Pentagon, 16,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan in last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, on August 23, all flights to and from Kabul Airport have been suspended again until further notice due to a large crowd of people, wishing to leave the country, according to the resolution of the Civil Aviation Administration of Afghanistan.
“Passengers wishing to fly to various regions of the country, as well as abroad, will be notified in advance of the resumption of flights. Such measures are being taken to prevent congestion and disorder in the air harbor, ” the statement says.
Soon after the announcement of the flights suspension, a fire reportedly broke out on the territory of the airport.
Breaking – A fire has broken out at Kabul airport in Afghanistan amid evacuations. pic.twitter.com/h8BBSVJCmV #Afganisthan #KabulAiport #Afghanistan
— Jerry Hicks (@JerryHicksUnite) August 23, 2021
