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A few hours after the last foreign troops withdrew from Afghanistan, the Taliban leaders victoriously walked through the Kabul Airport, flanked by guards wearing special forces combat equipment to inspect the destroyed U.S. military equipment.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid led a group of officials onto the runway with a big smile on his usually stoic face.
“Congratulations to Afghanistan… this victory belongs to all of us,” Mujahid told reporters. “The United States has been defeated and they cannot achieve their goals through military operations,” he said.
The “Badri 313” special forces of the Taliban pose for a photo, wave an American rifle, and wave the organization’s white flag.
Once one of the safest locations in Afghanistan, the passenger terminal at the airport was in chaos, with empty bullet casings scattered on the floor near all entrances.
Since the Taliban took over the country on August 15, the airport has been at the center of chaotic evacuation. The United States and its allies airlifted more than 100,000 people, including foreigners and Afghans who feared the new ruler’s revenge.
Ensuring the security of the airport is a key issue, and the Taliban have repeatedly stated that they will not accept any foreign military presence in Afghanistan. They are negotiating with Turkey to take over the civil operations of the airport. No agreement has been reached yet.
An American general said that the outgoing U.S. military blew up several aircraft and armored vehicles and a high-tech rocket defense system at the airport.
General Kenneth MacKenzie, commander of the Central Command, stated that 73 aircraft were “demilitarized” or rendered useless by the U.S. military before ending the two-week evacuation of Taliban-controlled countries.
He said that during the airlift, the Pentagon formed a force of nearly 6,000 to occupy and operate the Kabul Airport, but left about 70 MRAP armored tactical vehicles — each could cost as much as $1 million — before leaving. Disabled.
The United States also left the C-RAM system—anti-rocket, artillery, and mortar—to protect the airport from rocket attacks.
On Monday, the system helped withstand five rockets from the Islamic State ISKP (ISIS-K) in Khorasan Province, Afghanistan.
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