Taliban fighters were seen celebrating the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, a Los Angeles Times reporter tweeted late Monday, generously sharing pictures of the events.
In the photos, the militants were seen flaunting US-made weapons while in American uniforms after the last US flight took off from the airport. Gunfire and cheers were also reported.
The Taliban fighters celebrated their victory by raising their gloved fists and American weapons in the air, chanting “Takbir” and “Zendabar.”
20 years of American occupation in Afghanistan reached the end of a chapter. https://t.co/BmS2T6rAI7 pic.twitter.com/wSEMDWR0ro— Marcus Yam 文火 (@yamphoto) August 31, 2021
What comes next for the Taliban after taking the airport? Check to see if any equipment left behind by the U.S. military is still working. Unlock gates. Find keys to forklift. Move barricades. Organize supplies. Find on-switch for lights. Secure perimeter. Catalog inventory. pic.twitter.com/8m9epjM0zk
— Marcus Yam 文火 (@yamphoto) August 31, 2021
Videos were also shared on Twitter earlier showing Taliban fighters firing gunshots into the air to mark the end of 20 years of American occupation. Chants of “Alhamdulillah” (“praise be to Allah”) could be heard in the background in some other videos.
Celebratory gunfire #Kabulairport #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/behl9ZRPU0
— lyse doucet (@bbclysedoucet) August 30, 2021
#Taliban fighters enter into what had minutes before been the #US controlled portion of #Kabul Airport after withdrawal and end of #airlift. Washington ends its 20-year war in #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/4c4OBc8bBb
— Nabih (@nabihbulos) August 30, 2021
#Taliban fighters enter a hangar in #Kabul Airport and examine #chinook helicopters after #US leaves #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/flJx0cLf0p
— Nabih (@nabihbulos) August 30, 2021
This comes as US CENTCOM chief Kenneth McKenzie assured Monday that the US had demilitarized some of the military equipment in Afghanistan that it was unable to bring back during the withdrawal.
Billions of dollars worth of military equipment is feared to have fallen into the hands of the Taliban, including famous Black Hawk helicopters and Humvees, and also military biometric devices, which can be used to track down ex-Afghan allies who worked with the Americans. The equipment was initially supplied to boost the capabilities of Afghan forces and was reportedly abandoned by the US military amid the chaotic evacuation from the country.
Photos and footage posted on social media days before pictured Taliban fighters posing next to their military booty, as National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed that a “fair amount” of US-supplied weapons had been seized by the Islamists.
A spokesman for the Taliban’s political office told Sputnik that all of Afghanistan is under full Taliban control now that the last US forces have left the country. “Now our state has become free and independent,” the spokesman said.
The United States was supposed to complete the evacuation of its contingent from the country by 31 August. However, the final days of their withdrawal have witnessed deadly attacks claimed to have been carried out by Daesh*-Khorasan terrorists, in which nearly 200 people were killed, including 13 US service members. Washington retaliated with drone strikes, which, according to the US military, targeted high-profile Daesh terrorists. However, they killed a number of civilians as well, including children as young as 2 years old.
On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden is expected to deliver a speech to the American public on the troop pullout.
*Terrorist organizations banned in Russia and many other states
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Photo : Twitter/ Marcus Yam 文火
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