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State Department spokesman Ned Price said the embassy would remain open despite the planned evacuation.
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“We are further reducing our civilian footprint in Kabul given the evolving security situation,” Price told reporters Reuters, Friday (13/8/2021).
“We look forward to withdrawing a core diplomatic presence in Afghanistan in the coming weeks. To facilitate this reduction, the Ministry of Defense has been able to temporarily deploy additional personnel to Hamid Karzai International Airport.”
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby later confirmed that the US was sending 3,000 troops to assist with the evacuation of US embassy personnel and Afghan special immigrant visa (SIV) applicants.
He stressed, however, that American troops would not stay in Afghanistan for long.
“This is a temporary mission with a narrow focus,” he said, warning that US forces would respond if they were attacked.
“As with all deployments of our troops to danger, our commanders have an inherent right to self-defense, and any attack against them can and will be met with a strong and appropriate response,” Kirby told a news conference.
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