No Americans Have Been Rescued Outside of Kabul:

No Americans Have Been Rescued Outside of Kabul: Pentagon

U.S. troops have not rescued any Americans in Afghanistan outside of Kabul, though they have the capability to do so, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Only three rescue missions have been conducted by American soldiers since the Taliban took over the country, according to military officials. But all three took place within Kabul, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington.

“Could it be done outside Kabul, if needed?"

"We have the capability,” he said.

“I’m not suggesting that it would be well outside of Kabul. I’m not suggesting that it would be throughout the whole countryside,” he added later. “When I said ‘outside Kabul,’ I’m talking about relatively close by. I don’t want to set the expectation that we’re going to be able to fly all over the country to pick up people.”

The reason that distance is so small is because the focus of the mission is on protecting the Hamid Karzai International Airport, where flights are departing regularly with Afghans, Americans, and others, Kirby said.

Asked if the United States could help an American couple who is reportedly in Mazar-e-Sharife, he answered bluntly, “No.”

So far, three missions have been conducted, including one to the Baron Hotel to rescue a group of 169 people who were struggling to make it to the airport. All three have been “a short duration and a short distance,” according to Kirby.

Approximately 1,500 Americans remain in Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced shortly before Kirby answered questions from reporters. U.S. officials have repeatedly said that they expect to be able to evacuate every American who wants to leave the country by an Aug. 31 deadline that President Joe Biden imposed.

- Father God, we continue to bow before you, prophetically in sackcloth and ashes, in repentance for these wicked deeds now being carried out by our nation.

Lord God, spare Your people, we pray, and save our nation. We ask in Your name, amen and amen.

- "When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly." (Esther 4:1)