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TERRORISM

US embassy in Kabul urges Americans to leave immediately

The US embassy in Kabul told Americans not 'rely on U.S. government flights' while leaving Afghanistan

By Emma Colton Fox News
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The U.S. embassy in Kabul told Americans in Afghanistan to leave the country immediately in response to an increase in violence, and to not "rely on U.S. government flights" in the process. 

"The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to leave Afghanistan immediately using available commercial flight options.  Given the security conditions and reduced staffing, the Embassy’s ability to assist U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited even within Kabul," the embassy said on its government website Saturday. 

Fox News has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment. 

TALIBAN AMBUSHES AND KILLS AFGHAN GOVERNMENT MEDIA OFFICIAL

The warning comes after the Taliban ambushed and killed the director of Afghanistan’s government media center on Friday in Kabul, with a Taliban spokesman saying the official was "punished to [sic] his deeds."

 The terrorist group on Friday also captured its first provincial capital, Zaranj, located in the southern Nimroz province. 

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"These Taliban actions to forcibly impose its rule are unacceptable and contradict its claim to support a negotiated settlement in the Doha peace process. They demonstrate wanton disregard for the welfare and rights of civilians and will worsen this country’s humanitarian crisis," the embassy said in another statement Saturday. 

Stranded people wait for the reopening of the border crossing point which was closed by the authorities, in Chaman on August 7, 2021, after the Taliban took control of the Afghan border town in a rapid offensive across the country. (Photo by Asghar ACHAKZAI / AFP) (Photo by ASGHAR ACHAKZAI/AFP via Getty Images)

Stranded people wait for the reopening of the border crossing point which was closed by the authorities, in Chaman on August 7, 2021, after the Taliban took control of the Afghan border town in a rapid offensive across the country. (Photo by Asghar ACHAKZAI / AFP) (Photo by ASGHAR ACHAKZAI/AFP via Getty Images) (Photo by ASGHAR ACHAKZAI/AFP via Getty Images)

Special representative of the U.N. secretary-general for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, further warned that without intervention, the country could fall "into a situation of catastrophe so serious that it would have few, if any, parallels in this century."

AFGHAN TRANSLATORS, FAMILIES FEAR TALIBAN TAKEOVER AS THEY TRY ESCAPING TO US

The country remains on a level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning, with the embassy citing, "crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and COVID-19."

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The State Department in April had ordered federal employees from the embassy to leave the country if they were able to do their work elsewhere in response to the increase in violence. The announcement came the same month President Biden set a September deadline to remove 2,500 remaining U.S. troops from the country.