The foreign minister of Syria says that the US’s “thunderous defeat in Afghanistan” will result in similar defeats in Syria and other parts.
Faisal Mekdad made the comments following a meeting between him and his Iranian counterpart. He began an official visit in Syria on Sunday.
Mekdad stated that the U.S. withdrawal in Afghanistan was “a powerful lesson for allies and tools of America in the region, and the world.”
Mekdad seemed to refer to Kurdish-led rebels who are allied with the United States and control large parts of eastern Syria, which includes the country’s largest oil field.
There are hundreds of U.S. troops stationed in northeastern Syria to support Kurdish-led fighters against the Islamic State group.
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BERLIN — Germany has stated that it will help Afghans still seeking asylum as well as refugees fleeing the country.
Heiko Maas, the Foreign Minister, stressed that Germany’s engagement in Afghanistan was not over with the end of the military evacuation mission.
Maas spoke to Maas before he arrived in Turkey, the first destination on his itinerary. Maas will travel onward to Uzbekistan (Pakistan), Tajikistan, Tajikistan, and Qatar.
This trip is just days after Germany’s military evacuation operations in Afghanistan. According to the German defense ministry 5,347 people were evacuated by the German Bundeswehr from at least 45 countries. However, thousands of people are still trying to escape.
Maas stated that many of the countries he visited had played a “considerable role in the success of the evacuation efforts.” Maas stated that he believes that an “international coordinated approach to the Taliban is required.”
He said, “Our offer to support the neighboring nations to help them cope with the economic and humanitarian fallout is also part” of the deal. “It’s in our best interests to make sure that Afghanistan’s collapse does not destabilize the region.”
MILAN — Two aircraft carrying U.S. citizens as well as Afghan nationals fleeing the chaos in Afghanistan have left Italy bound for Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
The joint statement by the Naval Air Station at Sigonella and U.S. Embassy Rome didn’t specify the number of flights or how many passengers were on Sunday’s first flight from the U.S. military base. It only stated that they left at full capacity.
They were headed for Dulles International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport. Sigonella is an overseas U.S. base that can be used as a stopover to allow Afghan nationals to come to the United States to work with Western forces or other organizations.
Two barracks buildings have been designated by the Naval Air Station as temporary accommodation for evacuees. Each building includes halal, religious, and recreational areas. According to the statement, medical care is available and an imam has visited daily.
There are hundreds of children evacuees, each one of whom has been given a stuffed doll, clothing, and other necessities.
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WASHINGTON — U.S. officials claim that a drone strike by the United States has struck a vehicle carrying several suicide bombers from Islamic State heading towards Kabul’s airport. According to a military official, the strike caused “significant secondary explosions”, indicating that there was a significant amount of explosive material inside the vehicle.
Two top U.S. officials stated that the U.S. believed the strike was successful and that the target was reached. This is the second U.S. airstrike against the militant group. It claimed responsibility for Thursday’s suicide bombing at Kabul’s airport gate. 13 U.S. military personnel were killed and scores of Afghans fled the country to escape the Taliban.
Officials stated Sunday that initial reports indicated there were no civilian casualties from the airstrike. However, one official said they are still assessing any reports regarding collateral damage.
Although there were reports of an explosion at a nearby house, it was not clear if the explosions were related. Officials spoke under anonymity to discuss military operations.
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KABUL (Afghanistan) — A rocket struck a neighbourhood northwest of Kabul’s international Airport, according to an Afghan police chief. The incident occurred amid U.S. withdrawals there. One child was killed.
Rashid, Kabul’s police chief, said that the rocket was fired Sunday afternoon.
The attack was not immediately claimed by any group. As the United States closes down an historic airlift that saw thousands of people evacuated from Kabul’s International Airport, which was the site of most of the chaos in Afghanistan since the Taliban overtook it two weeks ago, rocket fire is heard.
The Taliban increased security at the airport after an Islamic State affiliate suicide attack that claimed the lives of more than 180 people. Britain’s evacuation flights were cancelled Saturday.
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PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that France and Britain would propose to the U.N. the creation of a “safe area” in Kabul, which would allow for “humanitarian operations.”
French leader currently in Iraq said Sunday that London and Paris would propose to the Security Council a resolution on Afghanistan’s crisis. This resolution would be “aimed at defining safe zones in Kabul under U.N. supervision.”
In an exclusive interview, he stated that he would continue to put pressure on the Taliban and hold international leaders accountable.
It was not clear if the protection zones France and Britain envisaged would be linked to eventual evacuations, as Macron mentioned on Saturday.
At a news conference held in Baghdad, he stated that France was talking to Qatar and the Taliban about continued evacuations following Tuesday’s American withdrawal. He also mentioned that France would be bringing out Afghans from France’s list for potential evacuees who never made it out of Afghanistan. He suggested that one option would be to evacuate via Kabul’s civilian airstrip or another neighboring country.
France’s evacuation flights from Kabul were canceled on Friday night. It had evacuated 2,834 people, mainly Afghans who were at risk. Britain’s operations were halted on Saturday.
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BERLIN — According to Germany’s Foreign Office, a privately organized convoy arrived at Kabul’s airport with 147 people in dire need of protection. They were all evacuated on Sunday morning.
The convoy was managed by a German security contractor and included both local government employees as well as contractors.
This operation was carried out with U.S. forces and in close contact with the German Foreign Office.
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ISTANBUL — Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish President, has indicated his willingness to assist the Taliban in Afghanistan’s development.
He cited Turkey’s vast experience in large-scale infrastructure and construction projects. To help, however, it is necessary to open the doors. Our intelligence agency is currently meeting with Taliban representatives.
Erdogan spoke to journalists while on a return flight out of Montenegro. He stressed the importance ex-Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who were key figures in negotiations with the Taliban. After the Taliban’s fall two weeks ago, both men remained in Kabul.
He stated that the Taliban’s reformist approach to issues like women’s rights would be considered in future negotiations.
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KABUL (Afghanistan) — Unknown circumstances led to the shooting death of an Afghan folk singer by a Taliban fighter in a mountainous province. According to Fawad Andarabi, this was Sunday.
Activists were worried that the insurgents might return to oppressive rule after the military blitz overthrew the government. Friday’s killing took place in the Andarabi Valley, where he was named. It is located in Baghlan province, 100 km (60 miles) north Kabul. Since the Taliban tookover, the valley was in turmoil. Some districts were taken under control by militia fighters who opposed the Taliban.
Jawad Andarabi said that the Taliban had previously visited Andarabi’s house and searched it. He even had tea with him. Something changed on Friday.
His son claims he wanted justice, and that the local Taliban council had promised to punish his father’s murderer.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, told the AP that insurgents would investigate this incident but did not provide any details about the killing.
