Evacuations Continue in Afghanistan, Rocket attack preempted

Fice rockets targeted the Kabul airport on Monday morning and U.S. forces on the airfield used a Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) defensive system to intercept one, Army Maj. Gen. William D. “Hank” Taylor, Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations said.

Americans continued to travel despite months of warnings that the Afghan miIitary mission was ending. State continues to warn those disregarding the warnings.p after the milItary mission ended. Ross Williams said from Kabul 30 August as the milItary mission was ending.

Travel Advisory Level 4: Do not travel to Afghanistan due to civil unrest, armed conflict, crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and COVID-19. Travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe. For more information visit http://ow.ly/Qpc650G1rAM

state also confirmed the ongoing efforts:

Secretary Antony Blinken I want to drive home today that America’s work in Afghanistan continues. We have a plan for what’s next, and we’re putting it into action.

During the process, Embassy staff were on station attempting to put some semblance of order to the chaos.

As the evacuations began a release stated: The security situation in Kabul continues to change quickly, including at the airport. U.S. citizens should continue to shelter in place. U.S. citizens wanting assistance to depart the country should register for any option that might be identified to return to the United States. To receive assistance from the Embassy, U.S. citizens must complete this Repatriation Assistance Request for each traveler in their group. Spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens in Afghanistan who are awaiting immigrant visas should also complete this form if they wish to depart. Please do so as soon as possible. Please do so only once. You must complete this form even if you’ve previously submitted your information to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul by another means.

After the ISIS deadly bombing Americans were warned:

August 26: EXPLOSION AT THE ABBEY GATE OF KABUL AIRPORT, REPORTS OF GUNFIRE There has been a large explosion at the airport, and there are reports of gunfire. U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid airport gates at this time. U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate …

Event: Due to a specific, credible threat, all U.S. citizens in the vicinity of Kabul airport (HKIA), including the South (Airport Circle) gate, the new Ministry of the Interior, and the gate near the Panjshir Petrol station on the northwest side of the airport, should leave the airport area immediately.

Military officials admitted many Afghan allies were left behind.

Everybody is haunted by the choices we had to make and by the people we were not able to help,” the official said. “It involves some really painful trade-offs and choices.”

“We unfortunately had to start prioritizing the people to whom we had a legal obligation first and foremost, and that was our fellow American citizens,” the official added.

But as the military mission ended, many were stuck behind, including diversity visa winners.

After 20 years of war in Afghanistan spanning four American presidencies, the U.S. government slammed the door on the last evacuation flights of civilian Afghans last weekend, leaving behind hundreds of these diversity visa winners, VOA reported.

As the U.S. embassy makes a last ditch effort in Qatar, it warns Americans once more:

U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid all airport gates at this time.

Then in 31 August, a release stated: The U.S. Embassy in Kabul suspended operations on August 31, 2021.  While the U.S. government has withdrawn its personnel from Kabul, we will continue to assist U.S. citizens and their families in Afghanistan from Doha, Qatar. The Embassy will continue to provide information via the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) , the  Embassy web page ,  Travel.State.Gov , and  Facebook  and  Twitter .  Consular services remain available outside …