Pentagon sidelines ally Turkey as US takes control of Kabul airport
Taliban fighters helped secure the southern perimeter of Kabul airport as the US Army's 82nd Airborne rushed in to take control, marking a rare moment of coordination between the years-long enemies.
The Pentagon placed the head of the 82nd Airborne Division in charge of securing Kabul’s main airport this week after chaos on the runway temporarily halted evacuation flights from Afghanistan.
Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue arrived in the Afghan capital to relieve pressure on the US commander overseeing the evacuation, Rear Adm. Peter Vasely, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The arrival of Donahue, a Delta Force veteran who last year oversaw US and NATO special operations in Afghanistan, comes as Pentagon officials say American, Turkish, Afghan and other international forces have secured the perimeter of Hamid Karzai International Airport.
The Pentagon’s change of plans at Kabul international also means Turkey’s forces are no longer functionally in command there, a US defense official confirmed Al-Monitor.
