Military Photographers Capture Scenes From Afghanistan Evacuation

New imagery released from military photographers shows what it’s like on the front lines of the evacuation effort underway in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The pictures present a much calmer snapshot of the evacuation than the initial photos that emerged as crowds of people flooded the airport, desperate to escape the now Taliban-controlled nation. Indeed, the captions provided by the Department of Defense describe Marines and soldiers as assisting with an “orderly drawdown of designated personnel in Afghanistan.”

Department of State personnel wear face masks and helmets and roll suitcases behind them on their way to be processed for evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 15, 2021. US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Isaiah Campbell.

Photos taken Sunday, Aug. 15, show US Army soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division standing guard outside Hamid Karzai International Airport while Marines process Department of State employees inside. That same day, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, and the Taliban took control of the capital city.

An Afghan child sleeps on the cargo floor of a C-17 Globemaster III, kept warm by the uniform of the C-17 loadmaster, during an evacuation flight from Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 15, 2021. US Air Force photo.

One Afghan child was pictured sleeping on the floor of a C-17, kept warm by the uniform of a loadmaster, during an evacuation flight from Kabul. Other children received food and toys from service members after arriving at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Members from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing distribute food and water to Afghan citizens in as part of Operation Allies Refuge Aug. 16, 2021, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kylie Barrow.

Additional photographs show Marines waiting for a flight at Al Udeid Air Base Tuesday. Several thousand additional troops were deployed to the theater late last week as the situation deteriorated.

Marines assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit await a flight at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Aug. 17, 2021. US Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Mark Andries.

Marines assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit fly to Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 17, 2021. US Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Mark Andries.

Dozens of Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit crammed into a plane and flew to Hamid Karzai International Airport Tuesday to assist with evacuation efforts. US officials announced plans to fly up to 9,000 people out of the country per day during the evacuation.

US Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, the commander of US Central Command, arrives at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, Aug. 17, 2021. US Navy photo by Capt. William Urban.

US Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, the commander of US Central Command, arrived in Kabul Tuesday as well. In a written statement, McKenzie said he saw military air traffic controllers and ground handlers “rapidly scaling up operations to ensure the smooth flow of military reinforcements to the airport” as well as evacuation efforts. The airfield is secure and open to civilian air traffic, according to Central Command.

McKenzie also said he met with Taliban senior leaders Sunday in Doha and “cautioned them against interference” in the evacuation. He said he made it clear any attack would be “met with overwhelming force” in defense of American troops.