200 americans remain in afghanistan. with some intention to leave. are you committed to making sure the troops stay until every american that wants to be out? yes. we know it was not 100 or 200. it was at least 900 american citizens and residents that were left hand. 479 cities, 450 permanent residents and with at least 12 that are still there and want to escape. there s suggestions that mitch mcconnell that that number is higher. meanwhile, the conditions on the ground get worse for those stuck there. an estimated 22.8 million people, more than half the country s population are expected to face life threatening famine, many on the brink of catastrophe and the security situation deteriorating. what jen psaki seemed to suggest is there s americans in afghanistan that have changed their mind about wanting to leave hence the higher number.
he explained the threats and particularly concerned about vehicle-borne ieds, small or large or car truck bombs. they have a constant stream of tactical intelligence suggesting that the threats continue. you reported on more explosions across the city and even near the airport tonight. i cannot confirm those. the general was asked about them and he said he s seen the reporting on more explosions in kabul. the security situation deteriorating. it s a miracle the past week we haven t seen this attack. the general also said that some of the planes have come under fire. fortunately none struck. but there s attempts to fire on u.s. military planes and civilian aircraft as they leave the airport. there s some active measures in place to protect the 5,200 u.s. service members that are active at the airport and still trying to get the evacuation flights
end america s war fighting in afghanistan. i cannot and will not ask our troops to fight on endlessly. the way this went down is shocking. the images we ve seen in the past day give any human being a visceral and sick reaction. sickening images show a disastrous exit out of afghanistan, not in any way how the most powerful country in the world gets out or thought about it. no, this is hastingly leaving a security situation deteriorating by the hour. some of the images, right? this was the scene at the airport in kabul. this is a u.s. air force plane. hundreds of people, thousands maybe when you look out there but, you know, look at them. they re trying to make their way in the plane and prevent the plane from taking off and what followed is absolutely horrific. it shows you the level of desperation. this video is difficult to
back in combat. he sidestepped the question. but listen to what he had to say. this is a temporary mission with a narrow focus. as with all deployments of our troops into harm s way, our commanders have the right of self-defense and any attack on them can and will be met with a forceful and an appropriate response. so they may not want to call it combat, but they are in a combat environment as are the u.s. pilots flying missions overhead even right now. why all this concern? there were meetings across washington over the course of the day to put all of this into place. the taliban are on the march. there is no question about it. the security situation deteriorating. and one intelligence analysis says the taliban could be capable now of potentially isolating the capital of kabal in the next 30 to 60 days. that alone makes the u.s. obviously quite concerned for the fate and security of the
protection as this situation develops. they are consolidating into fewer positions. to try to improve their security situation. the pentagon wants to do this and what they call an orderly manner. and it could take they say das s or weekses. but that s really a big if. the security situation deteriorating by the hour by the day. will these forces be able to hang on to depart in some orderly fashion. over the coming days or weeks. or are they really going to have to pack and go. and if they have to go in an extreme situation, will they be able to take all their classified equipment and weapons with them? will they have to destroy things in place before they either fly out or drive of northern syria. you did hit on a very important point there that the syrian army as well as the russians are moving north. we know the kurds are striking a