Taliban soldiers rushed in to take over Kabul airport 2
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, led a group of officials from this movement on the morning of August 31 to enter the runway of Hamid Karzai International Airport, north of the capital Kabul, just a few hours after the US completed its military withdrawal campaign.
Immediately afterward, a group of Taliban gunmen equipped with modern American weapons loudly ran in a vertical formation on the runway.
The Taliban took over the empty airport after the US withdrew
Officials and Taliban fighters at Hamid Karzai airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 31.
Spokesman Mujahid smiled brightly, contrary to his usual serious expression, surrounded by special forces soldiers accompanying him.
Photos and videos showed many passenger planes, military aircraft and cars scattered around the airport, some cars flipped sideways.
Taliban fighters hung their flag on the fence of Kabul airport, while others stood guard in the civilian area of the facility.
Kabul airport witnessed chaos as thousands of people flocked to find a way to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban entered the capital on August 15.
Taliban special forces fighters at Kabul airport on August 31.
Inside the Kabul airport terminal, dozens of suitcases and pieces of luggage lie scattered on the floor, seemingly abandoned by their owners in the chaos as they tried to leave Afghanistan.
All checkpoints and obstructions on roads leading to Kabul airport have been removed.
`We defeated the Americans after 20 years,` said Mohammad Islam, a Taliban fighter from Logar province on guard duty.
A Taliban gunman stands in front of the aircraft maintenance and repair workshop at Kabul airport on August 31.
Commercial airlines have not yet resumed operations to Kabul airport, and it is unclear which unit is responsible for operating this facility and taking over Afghan airspace after US forces withdraw home.
In an interview on Afghan television, spokesman Mujahid mentioned restarting operations at Kabul airport.
`Our team of engineers will examine the technical and logistical requirements of the airport,` Mujahid said.
