Pentagon Spox: 3000+ Troops To Help Evacute U.S. Embassy Personnel In Afghanistan

REPORTER: "So why is it — I'm unclear why — so it’s 3,000 people that are going to HKIA right away in the coming days. And then you have another 3,500 who will be there on standby in case all for security. I’m unclear on what they’re doing. If the 3,000 are going to HKIA, it’s like a couple of miles from the embassy to HKIA. What exactly are 3,000 people doing? Are they just there securing the airport then?"

KIRBY: "They’ll be there to provide safety and a secure movement of the reduction of civilian personnel out of the embassy to help facilitate their departure from the country, to also help with the process of moving special immigrant visa applicants out of the country and to provide additional security at the airport. Again, we believe this is a prudent measure given the deteriorating security situation."