UK shuts Kabul airport gates with airlift to end ‘in hours’ leaving any Brits in Afghanistan stranded with Taliban

THE gates at Kabul airport have been sealed and nobody else will be called for evacuation, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed today.

The remaining hours of the airlifts will focus on Brits and Afghans already processed and waiting inside the airfield.



Defence Sec Ben Wallace said there is a matter of hours

UK shuts Kabul airport gates with airlift to end ‘in hours’ leaving any Brits in Afghanistan stranded with Taliban
An evacuation flight from Kabul airport

At 4.30am 1,000 people holed up at the Baron Hotel were taken to the airport for evacuation.

Mr Wallace said a few people would be plucked out of the desperate crowd swamped outside – but for the majority of desperate Afghans hopes of evacuation are gone.

He said: “Our top priority as we move through this process will be the protection of all those involved who are operating in a heightened threat environment.

“It is with deep regret that not everyone has been able to be evacuated during this process. But I am proud of this remarkable achievement from our Border Force, Armed Forces, MOD, FCDO, Home Office who have evacuated over 13,000 people in 14 days during Operation Pitting.

“We will continue to honour our debt to all those who have not yet been able to leave Afghanistan. We will do all that we can to ensure they reach safety.”

This breaking news story is being updated