Over to Afghanistan, where new warnings of a possible attack from Afghanistan's Islamic State group affiliate have emerged.
As tens of thousands have flocked to Kabul International Airport in an attempt to flee the Taliban, the United States says 1,500 Americans may still be awaiting evacuation.
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Several nations continued to withdraw citizens from Afghanistan today as it was all go at the single-runway Kabul International Airport.
Some countries have begun evacuating their soldiers and diplomats, signalling the end of one of the largest airlifts in history.
The Taliban have not reneged on a pledge not to attack Western forces during the evacuation, but have been insisting foreign troops must be out of the country by the end of the month.
Meantime, new warnings that Afghanistan's Islamic State group affiliate is bound to threaten the safety of the legions of people outside the airport, emerged from several Western nations, including Britain.
Taking heed, some countries have ordered their military leaving Kabul airport launch flares aimed at disrupting any potential missile fire.
On to the progress in the evacuation of U.S. citizens in Afghanistan. The U.S. Secretary of State said some 1,500 Americans may be awaiting evacuation from Afghanistan, but 4,500 out of the 6,000 citizens there have been brought to a sanctuary, which bespeaks satisfactory progress.
Of the estimated 1,500 Americans now awaiting evacuation in Afghanistan, U.S. authorities have contacted some 500 of them with instructions on when and how to enter Kabul airport to catch evacuation flights.
But America did not rest on its laurels, as Antony Blinken said American troops at Kabul airport are anchoring a multinational evacuation, flying at-risk Afghans away while withdrawing the last of the thousands of U.S. troops.
Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State: While evacuating Americans is our top priority, we're also committed to getting out as many Afghans at-risk as we can before the 31st.
As the adage goes, discretion is the better part of valour. So, making more of safety of American citizens in Afghanistan, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued an alert warning American citizens against nearing three specific airport gates.
Be that as it may, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied any imminent threats, but gave no elaboration.
Troops have also been worried about the huge throng of people outside the airport. Since there is no formal screening, there is word some could slip through and detonate explosives in the crowd.
Despite all that, the day ended on a happy note, as a baby girl was born on a C-17 military aircraft during an evacuation flight from Afghanistan.
Her parents named the girl Reach, the callsign of their evacuation flight.
GEN. Tod Wolters, U.S. European Command/NATO's Supreme Allied Commander:
They (the parents) named the little girl Reach. And they did so because the callsign of the C-17 aircraft that flew them from Qatar to Remstein was "Reach." So that child's name will forever be Reach.
Without a shadow of doubt, the girl's name - Reach - will carry that experience with her in perpetuity.
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