CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australia evacuated 26 people from Afghanistan in its first rescue flight, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday.
Australia said Monday it would send 250 military personnel to Kabul to evacuate its citizens and an unspecified number of Afghans who had been granted visas after working for Australia.
Taliban insurgents seized Kabul last weekend after a nationwide lightning offensive as Western forces withdrew from the country.
US forces had to halt flights on Monday after thousands of Afghans seeking to flee the country invaded the airport. The situation was under control on Tuesday and flights resumed.
Australia’s first relief flight arrived in Afghanistan late Tuesday to deploy personnel to aid in the rescue of Australian citizens and Afghan civilians who worked for Australia. It then left Kabul, carrying 26 people, Scott Morrison said.