'Operation Allies Refuge' to Begin Airlifting Afghans Amid US Withdrawal

WHITE HOUSE - The United States this month is to begin airlifting from Afghanistan thousands of those who helped support American forces there during the past 20 years and now fear for their lives amid a Taliban offensive.

The White House announced Wednesday it is launching "Operation Allies Refuge" for many of those awaiting a Special Immigrant Visa.   "In terms of the specific numbers, I'm not going to be able to provide those to you for operational and security reasons," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. "But I can confirm that flights out of Afghanistan, for SIV applicants who are already in the pipeline, will begin in the last week of July and will continue, and our objective is to get individuals who are eligible, relocated out of the country in advance of the removal of the withdrawal of (U.S.) troops at the end of August."   Officials are also keeping quiet on the destinations for the evacuation flights, for which civilian charter aircraft are expected to be used. It has been reported that negotiations have been underway with such Central Asian nations as Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.