PESHAWAR: The United States military has said that it has “demilitarised” at least 73 aircraft and dozens of vehicles and rocket defense systems during the final phase of evacuation from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on 15 August.
“A total of 73 aircraft were demilitarised and rendered useless before leaving Kabul airport on 15 August,” The Central Command’s General Kenneth McKenzie announced. He further said that the military has also defused 70 MRAP armored tactical vehicles and 27 Humvees worth 70 million US dollars. “Those warplanes and vehicles will never be able to fly again. No one will be able to use them.”
The US armed forces had installed C-Ram missile defense system at Kabul airport that has also intercepted five rocket fired by terrorists on Kabul Airport on 30 August. Mackenzie informed that missile defense system was in operation until last night but was destroyed just before exit from Afghanistan. McKenzie said that it was a cumbersome process but the American forces have disabled the equipment in such a manner that no one will be able to use it in future.
The Taliban have seized control of the Hamid Karzai International airport in Kabul after the longest-running US war come to an end with the withdrawal of last American troops from Afghanistan on 15 August, Monday. According to the French news agency AFP, the Taliban celebrated by the US troops withdrawal with aerial firing and fireworks. The last US troops to oversee the “desperate evacuation” efforts left the Airport on Monday night, after which the US announced the completion of evacuation process. After the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban fighters immediately entered the airport, celebrating victory over the United States after two decades of war.
According to General McKenzie there are “very low hundreds” US citizen in Afghanistan now, adding that there was no civilian on the last flight from Kabul.