Operation Allies Refuge

Operation Allies Refuge
Part of the American military withdrawal from Afghanistan
Evacuees at Hamid Karzai International Airport are escorted by a U.S. Marine from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 18 August 2021
TypeNon-combatant evacuation operation (NEO)
Location
Afghanistan
Commanded byRAdm. Peter Vasely
ObjectiveEvacuation of American citizens, embassy staff, and allied Afghan nationals
DateFirst phase: 14 July 2021 – 15 August 2021
Second phase: 15 August 2021 – 30 August 2021
Executed by United States
Outcome123,000 people evacuated
Casualties195+ killed[1][2][3]
  • 175+ Afghan civilians, 13 American service members, and 3 British nationals killed in a suicide bombing at the airport[4]
  • 11 Afghan civilians killed during stampedes at the airport[5][6]
  • 6 Afghan civilian stowaways killed (one outside of Afghanistan)[7]
  • 2 unknown gunmen killed by American troops[8]
  • 1 Afghan guard killed during a gunfight[9]

Operation Allies Refuge was an evacuation effort carried out by the United States during the 2021 Taliban offensive. It took place in the final weeks of the War in Afghanistan and saw the airlifting of certain at-risk Afghan civilians (particularly coalition-allied interpreters), employees of the American embassy in Kabul, and other prospective applicants for the U.S. Special Immigrant Visa (SIV).[10][11] American personnel also helped NATO and other regional allies in their respective evacuation efforts from Hamid Karzai International Airport in the capital city of Kabul. The operation was concurrent with the broader American military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the multinational evacuation of eligible foreigners and vulnerable Afghans.

SIV applicants were airlifted to the U.S., where they were temporarily housed by the American military while they completed their SIV requirements.

  1. ^ "At least 20 deaths in last week during Kabul airport evacuation effort -NATO official". Reuters. August 22, 2021.
  2. ^ "Germany says firefight involving Western forces erupts at Kabul Airport". Reuters. August 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Kabul airport attack kills 60 Afghans, 13 US troops". Associated Press. August 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "US warns of 'credible' threats of more Kabul attacks: Live". Al Jazeera. August 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "Taliban beat back crowd at Kabul airport after seven killed in crush". Reuters. August 22, 2021.
  6. ^ "12 people have been killed at Kabul airport since Sunday as the Taliban say they 'don't want to hurt anyone'". Business Insider. August 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "U.S. officials say 7 people died during Kabul airport evacuation chaos". AP News. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "US troops to stay until Americans and eligible Afghans evacuated, says Biden". The Guardian. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "Firefight involving Western forces at Kabul airport, Afghan guard killed". Reuters. August 23, 2021.
  10. ^ Jamali, Naveed (July 14, 2021). "Biden to announce "Operation Allied Refuge" to airlift all eligible Afghans". Newsweek. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021.
  11. ^ Losey, Stephen (July 15, 2021). "White House: 'Operation Allies Refuge' to Start Evacuating Afghans by End of July". Military.com.