France will no longer be able to evacuate people from Afghanistan after Friday evening, said French Prime Minister Jean Castex in an interview on Thursday with RTL radio, reports FRANCE 24.
"As of tomorrow evening, we will no longer be able to proceed with evacuations from Kabul airport," the French prime minister said, citing the imminent withdrawal of the US troops controlling and securing the airport, set for August 31st.
The United States and allies urged people to move away from Kabul airport on Thursday due to the threat of a terror attack by Islamic State militants as Western troops hurry to evacuate as many people as possible before next Tuesday's deadline.
Castex's comments came as Britain warned of an imminent risk of an attack at the airport, while the Netherlands also said it was halting evacuation flights.
Military cargo planes leaving Kabul airport have launched flares to disrupt any potential surface-to-air missile fire as fleeing Afghan troops abandoned heavy weapons and equipment across the country as their ranks collapsed.S