Washington sends helicopters to rescue Americans in Kabul | world and science

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Friday that the US military has deployed three helicopters to Afghanistan to evacuate 169 Americans who were unable to reach Kabul airport. The spokesman said three Chinook helicopters left the perimeter of the airport, heading to the nearby Barron Hotel, where they rescued the Americans.

This is the first time since the start of the Afghan crisis that the US military has demonstrated its ability to leave the airport’s safe zone in order to rescue people trying to flee the country.

The evacuees planned to march to the airport, but the presence of a crowd on the road alarmed the US authorities. “Not everyone was so sure they could get through the crowd,” Kirby explained. He added that “the field commanders took the initiative to send helicopters to rescue them.”

US President Joe Biden indicated earlier that 169 Americans had been evacuated, without elaborating.

The US soldiers, who control the airport to facilitate evacuations, have so far avoided leaving the area to avoid possible clashes with the Taliban who have regained power in Afghanistan.