Joe Biden has said that US troops in Kabul would stay long enough to evacuate American citizens and eligible Afghan allies, and warned the Taliban there would be a “devastating” response to any attempt to attack or disrupt the operation. “American troops are performing this mission as professionally and as effectively as they always do, but it is not without risks,” he said. In his speech on Monday, Biden defended the delay in evacuating allied Afghan civilians. “Part of the answer is some of the Afghans did not want to leave earlier, still hopeful for their country,” he said. Photograph: Oliver Contreras/UPI/Rex/ShutterstockPentagon spokesman John Kirby said US, Turkish and other allied troops were working to clear the runways on Monday.

Source: The Guardian August 16, 2021 19:08 UTC