US Marines cradle babies in Afghan air lift to rescue 65,000 people in Kabul as Biden says people will die in evacuation
HEART-warming pictures of Marines tending to Afghani children have gone viral as evacuations continue following the Taliban’s takeover of the country six days ago. The images, taken by a US sergeant, were the more calm scenes captured at Kabul Airport where some 6,000 troops have been deployed. In one picture, a US marine sits in […]
HEART-warming pictures of Marines tending to Afghani children have gone viral as evacuations continue following the Taliban’s takeover of the country six days ago.
The images, taken by a US sergeant, were the more calm scenes captured at Kabul Airport where some 6,000 troops have been deployed.
In one picture, a US marine sits in his combat gear smiling down at the blanketed baby in his arms.
While it is not known who the child is, the marine is said to belong to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) which is based in North Carolina.
In another, two female troops hold babies in their arms while their fellow soldiers stand by.
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Surrounded by chaos in another image, a soldier kneels down to feed a boy some much-needed water.
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The final picture shared online is of a US marine laughing with an Afghani boy in what looks like an administration office.
“This is the America we need to be,” US congressman and military veteran Peter Meijer said of the images.
Yesterday it was reported that the crying baby who was seen handed over a barbed wire wall to a soldier was reunited with their father.
Marine Corps officials have revealed that the baby had been picked up by a member of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Major Jim Stenger told CBS News: ‘The baby seen in the video was taken to a medical treatment facility on-site and cared for by medical professionals.
“I can confirm the baby was reunited with their father and is safe at the airport.”
It comes as thousands of Afghan refugees wait at Kabul’s international airport for evacuation flights out of the country.
‘RISK OF LOSS’
On Tuesday 185 children were taken out of Afghanistan with more flights coming in the days ahead.
During a press briefing yesterday, President Biden said that the US military would educate 50,000 to 65,000 Afghan allies before adding that American citizens were the “priority”.
Meanwhile, the President acknowledged that the mass evacuation from the country is “not without risk of loss”.
Speaking at the White House, Mr. Biden said: “Make no mistake, this evacuation mission is dangerous.
“It involves risks to our armed forces and it’s being conducted under difficult circumstances.”
“I cannot promise what the final outcome will be or that it will be without risk of loss.
“But as commander in chief, I can assure you that I will mobilize every resource necessary.”
Mr. Biden confirmed that the US had already rescued 13,000 people to date in “one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history”.
On Wednesday, the President said that troops might have to stay in Afghanistan past the August 31 deadline to evacuate Americans.
“If there’s American citizens left, we’re going to stay until we get them all out,” the President told ABC News.
The Biden administration has come under fierce criticism for its handling of the withdrawal which in recent days has been dominated by scenes of chaos outside of Kabul airport.
