France To End Kabul Evacuation Operation Friday: PM

Beyond this date, "it will not be possible to carry out evacuations from Kabul airport," Castex told RTL radio Thursday.

France will fully end its operation to evacuate French nationals and Afghans in danger from Taliban-controlled Kabul by Friday evening, Prime Minister Jean Castex said. Beyond this date, "it will not be possible to carry out evacuations from Kabul airport," Castex told RTL radio Thursday. A source close to the government added that the date had been imposed on France by the plan of the United States, which is providing security at the airport, to pull out by August 31. The source added that France would do everything to keep its operation in place for as many more hours as it can, saying that the evacuation of civilians would wind up several hours before the formal end of the mission when military and remaining embassy services would leave.