Harris for hours. Good morning to our viewers here in the united states and all around the world, it is wednesday, august 25th. Events are moving at a breathtaking pace in afghanistan. Were waiting for word in the next few minutes on just how many people have been evacuated over the last 24 hours. That number all the more urgent because of the president s decision not to extend the August 31st deadline to keep u. S. Troops at the airport in kabul. So who is getting out . Who is being left behind . These are such important questions to which there have been incomplete answers. We dont have solid numbers for how many americans are left in afghanistan. That might change later today with an expected announcement from Secretary Of State tony blinken. What we do know is that President Biden says more than 70,000 people have been evacuated in the past ten days. That is a stunning figure. But, a senior Administration Official tells cnn this a lot of deserving afghans will be left behind. Overn
May have left, some may not actually be u. S. Citizens, and some may want to stay. We believe the number of americans actively seeking assistance to leave afghanistan is lower, likely significantly lower. Reporter president biden has promised to bring home every single american who wants to leave by next week. As Secretary Blinken offers this warning about threats on the ground. Were operating in a hostile environment in a City And Country now controlled by the taliban with the very real possibility of an isisk attack. Reporter in the last 24 hours, the u. S. And its allies have evacuated approximately 19,000 people. While the u. S. Has until the 31st to leave kabul, officials say evacuations will end before that so the military has time to pack up and leave. After the 31st, what happens to the airport is up to the taliban. That wont be an american responsibility. Reporter Tens Of Thousands of afghan allies who worked for the u. S. Are still waiting to be evacuated. Were also committed
Decision must be made today in order to provide enough time to withdraw the 5800 troops on the ground in kabul, as well as equipment and weapons. Minutes from now, leaders of the group of seven nations are set to hold a virtual meeting where u. S. Allies are expected to ramp up pressure on the president to extend that deadline. We are covering this story from all angles, like No One Else can. Lets begin this morning on the ground in kabul where that dramatic increase in evacuations is unfolding as we speak. And Sam Kiley is there live. Sam, tell us what youre seeing there. This is an enormous number of flights in the past 24 hours. Reporter yeah, its a gigantic number and they have been continuing all day today. Of course as well, jim. So, as of about two hours ago, military officials here were telling us the u. S. Alone had flown out some 9,000 evacuees. When i was on the main area where the refugees and the evacuees were gathering yesterday, jim, there were about 10 1 2 Thousand had
Kabul on aircraft yesterday. Thats another single day high. Hundreds of americans were among the evacuees. The administration still wont specify how many americans do remain in country. Kaitlyn collins is live at the White House. Kaitlyn, first of all, this huge decision by the president , what more do we know about it and what do we expect to hear from him on this when he speaks later today . Well, he could very well explain his thinking behind this decision. Because it does not come as a surprise to those in the West Wing who knew that a lot of the president s top advisers were advocating against extending that deadline past August 31st. Aware of the Security Concerns on the ground. That has been something big they have been monitoring on a daily basis. The potential threat for Terrorist Attacks given that chaotic situation outside the airport in kabul. So that played a big factor into president Bidens Decision here to stick with this August 31st deadline to remove all u. S. Troops f
21 people including 7 month old twins swept away by Catastrophic Flash Floods in tennessee. Ill talk to a mother who along with her 4 month old barely made it out of her flooded home alive. Lets go outfront. Good evening, everyone. Im Kate Bolduan in for erin burnett. We have breaking news. President Biden Being urged by several advisors against Keeping Troops in afghanistan past the August 31st deadline. The reason, the deteriorating Security Situation on the ground. Meanwhile, the pentagon needs the president to decide by tomorrow whether to extend the deadline in order to honor his promise of evacuating all americans and afghan allies. Also at this hour, top intel officials just wrapped up a briefing for the House Intelligence Committee on afghanistan and this briefing coming as warnings grow louder and louder over the Terror Threat from afghanistan. Jake Sullivan Today addressed a possible Isis Attack on the Kabul Airport after calling the threat real, acute and pers persistent. Ou