US helped citizen, family escape Afghanistan to neighboring country

The United States has helped four citizens escape Afghanistan to a neighboring country, the first of such evacuation since the final withdrawal of forces from the nation.

A State Department spokesperson told The Hill that it “facilitated the safe departure of four U.S. citizens from Afghanistan via an overland route” on Monday.

“U.S. Embassy personnel were present to greet them as they crossed out of Afghanistan,” the spokesperson said. 

The evacuation was first reported by The Associated Press, which reported that the citizens escaped with their children. 

A U.S. official didn’t give Ap any details of where the family arrived citing security measures and the need to preserve the route for future efforts. 

The U.S. ended its longest war last Tuesday when the final U.S. troop departed Afghanistan amid a chaotic withdrawal.

America and its allies evacuated over 124,000 people out of Afghanistan, including 6,000 U.S. citizens.

Still, the administration is working to help American citizens and Afghan allies who were not able to leave the country by the time U.S. troops left.

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that around 100 Americans were still waiting to be evacuated.

He added that some had family members in the country and that some wanted to stay, but said the U.S. would evacuate those who wanted to leave.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Sunday that airplanes carrying American and Afghan allies are sitting at Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport trying to depart, but were unable to do so.

The State Department, however, said it had no means of verifying McCaul’s claim.

Updated at 11:37 a.m.