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Pentagon rushes more reinforcements to Kabul airport as panic disrupts evacuations

US troops regained control of the runway Monday afternoon after masses of Afghans rushed onto the tarmac hoping to escape.

Afghans crowd Kabul airport tarmac on Aug. 16
Afghans crowd at the tarmac of the Kabul airport on Aug. 16, 2021, to flee the country after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. — AFP via Getty Images

The Biden administration went on the defensive Monday after US troops rushed to restore order as chaos broke out at the Afghan capital's main airport following the Taliban’s takeover of the country.

Thousands of Afghans hoping to escape the Islamist insurgents overwhelmed the tarmac on Monday, temporarily bringing evacuation flights to a halt.

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