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Military machine taking off from Kabul
Photo: SASCHA STEINBACH / EPA
This article will be updated continuously.
Macron visits Iraq and warns of persistent threat from IS
9.37 a.m.:
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned of a continuing danger from the jihadist
militia
Islamic State (IS).
During a visit to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Saturday, Macron warned the international community not to become "careless" in the fight against ISIS.
"I know that the fight against these terrorist groups is a priority for your government," said Macron after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi.
The French President is in Baghdad for a regional summit, which Egypt's head of state Abdel al-Fattah al-Sisi and the Jordanian King Abdullah II also attend.
The focus of the deliberations is the fight against IS and other radical Islamic groups.
Evacuations from Kabul continue
6.31 a.m.:
After the drone attack by the US military on a position of the local IS branch, the evacuations of civilians from Kabul continue.
Everything is going "very quickly," the Reuters news agency quotes an unnamed representative from Western countries.
Every foreigner should be allowed to leave the country within the next 48 hours.
Taliban fighters and their commanders surrounded the airport but were not on the airport premises, he says.
Despite the devastating suicide attack with at least 170 dead at Kabul airport and the ongoing threat situation, the USA wants to continue to fly people from Afghanistan "until the last moment".
The Pentagon and the Chinese military are again in dialogue
4.18 a.m.:
The US Department of Defense has re-established contact with China's military.
As reported by the Reuters news agency, a senior Pentagon official conducted the interview with representatives of the People's Army.
It is the first time since Joe Biden took office in January that the armed forces of both countries have been communicating with one another.
China has been the focus of US foreign policy for some time.
The relationship between the two countries is tense and shaped by trade and geopolitical differences.
Biden's staff describe China policy as the “greatest geopolitical challenge” at the moment.
The establishment of contact is also seen as an attempt not to let the lines of communication break off completely and to prevent misunderstandings, for example in the event of potential collisions in the South China Sea.
Jill Biden encourages soldier families
2.07 a.m.:
The American first lady Jill Biden turned to the families of military personnel and veterans after the deadly terrorist attack in Kabul.
"The tragic attack in front of Kabul airport this week has painfully shown us the ultimate sacrifice that you are ready to make," wrote Biden on Friday evening (local time) on Facebook.
"As a nation we have asked so much of you over the past twenty years." So many would have taken on an enormous burden, Biden continued.
"You gave us more than we can ever pay back."
The end of the mission in Afghanistan was an emotional moment, continued Biden.
“I want you to know that my heart is with you as you ponder what’s next for your family, your community, and our country.
You are not alone."
France
has evacuation flights from Afghanistan
completed
0.25 a.m.:
The French evacuation mission has also ended.
The French Defense Minister Florence Parly announced via Twitter that the airlift, which started on August 15, ended in the evening.
France would have flown out "almost 3,000 people", including more than 2,600 Afghans.
The Bundeswehr ended its rescue flights from Kabul on Thursday, as did the Netherlands and Australia.
Spain, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland followed on Friday.
/ dpa / Reuters / AFP
