First Brits back from Kabul: Embassy staff and UK nationals land at RAF Brize Norton after being evacuated from Afghan capital now under Taliban rule
- Group of embassy staff and UK nationals arrive at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire
- It comes as Armed Forces assist in evacuation mission – dubbed ‘Op Pitting’
- The operation was accelerated yesterday as the Taliban charged in Kabul
British civilians escaping Afghanistan amid a Taliban takeover have touched down in the UK after fleeing from the advancing extremists.
The first group of embassy staff and British national arrived at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, following a rapid SAS-backed rescue mission – dubbed ‘Op Pitting’.
Officials were forced to step-up evacuation plans after Taliban fighters yesterday stormed into Kabul and took control of the capital.
It had initially been hoped that the evacuation mission would be able to be carried out across the rest of August.
But shots from Taliban fighters were heard on the outskirts of the city yesterday morning, and by the end of the day the group had captured the Presidential Palace.
The US also stepped up its evacuation plans, with US Air Force Chinooks seen airlifting staff from its embassy yesterday – in scenes which mirrored the 1975 evacuation of Saigon.
British civilians fleeing Afghanistan amid a Taliban takeover touched down in the UK last night after escaping the country
The first group of embassy staff and British national arrived at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire last night, following an SAS-backed rescue mission – dubbed ‘Op Pitting’
The Armed Forces, including Special Forces units, are supporting the evacuation of British nationals and those eligible for relocation under the Government’s Afghan Relocation and Assistance Program
The Armed Forces are supporting the evacuation of British nationals and those eligible for relocation under the Government’s Afghan Relocation and Assistance Program.
The rescue mission could see thousands being evacuated from Afghanistan. Around 500 embassy staff are thought to be among those to be rescued.
Around 5,000 interpreters and their families are also seeking evacuation, fearing being classed as ‘traitors’ by the extremist Taliban.
There are also thousands of British and dual nationality passport holders who may need evacuation to UK, and around 2,000 people with links to Britain could also be eligible to leave Afghanistan for the UK.
Revealing that the first evacuation flight had landed in the UK last night, the Ministry of Defence said: ‘Last night the first flight of British Nationals and Embassy Staff arrived at RAF Brize Norton as part of Op PITTING.
‘The UK Armed Forces are supporting the evacuation of British Nationals and those eligible for relocation under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Program.’