Taliban fighters walk at the main entrance gate of Kabul airport in Kabul on August 28, 2021, following the Taliban stunning military takeover of Afghanistan. (WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP)
KABUL – The US and coalition forces have handed over control of three gates, including the entrance to the military section, of Kabul's airport, to Taliban members, a Taliban official told local media Sunday.
"The US troops are in control of a small part of the airport, including an area where the radar system of the airport is located," Enhamullah Samangani told Tolo News TV.
The takeover came after a deadly suicide bomb blast claimed by ISIS-K, a local affiliate of the Islamic State, killed 170 Afghans and 13 US troops
Taliban deployed a unit of special forces at the main gate of the airport about two weeks ago.
"We are ready to take over the security and technical responsibility of the airport," he said.
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The takeover came after a deadly suicide bomb blast claimed by ISIS-K, a local affiliate of the Islamic State, killed 170 Afghans and 13 US troops at an eastern gate of the facility on Thursday.
Earlier a Taliban official reportedly said that the Taliban's special forces, and a team of technical professionals and qualified engineers were ready to take over all charges of the airport after the departure of the US forces.
Dozens of planes, including military planes, took off from the airport since late Saturday. Most of some 6,000 US and coalition forces and a unit of Afghan Special Forces who were deployed to the airport before the Taliban's takeover of Kabul on Aug 15 had reportedly evacuated.
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All US and coalition forces are expected to leave the country on Aug 31, a planned deadline.