Firefight involving US forces erupts at Kabul airport and leaves one dead after ‘sniper opened fire on Afghan guards’
A FIREFIGHT involving United States forces erupted at Afghanistan's Kabul airport — leaving one dead after a "sniper opened fire on Afghan guards."
The chaos comes as the of "consequences" if NATO troops aren't withdrawn from the country by August 31 and thousands of Afghans flooded the airport hoping to flee the chaos.
Some 20 people have been as a result of stampedes, shootings, and crushes, as international forces have tried to evacuate their citizens from the country, Reuters reports.
The German military took to Twitter to inform the public of a that took place on Monday at Kabul airport's North Gate.
According to the report, a gunfight broke out at one of Afghanistan's main international airports between "Afghan security forces and unknown attackers."
"All soldiers of the Bundeswehr are uninjured, one Afghan security force was killed, 3 others were injured," the German military said.
The military noted that the three injured were Afghan guards and are now receiving treatment at a field hospital in Kabul airport.
CNN reported that a sniper had fired a shot at Afghan guards as approximately 600 former government soldiers helping the US at the airport.
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Meanwhile, two NATO officials on the scene have claimed the situation is now under control.
The firefight comes just one day after President Joe Biden made remarks on the dangerous situation in Afghanistan.
Speaking at a White House news briefing, Biden said: "The evacuation of thousands from Kabul is going to be hard and painful" and would have been "no matter when it began.
"We have a long way to go and a lot could still go wrong."
Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Dr Suhail Shaheen said Western troops would be crossing a "red line" if they stayed beyond the end of August deadline.
Shaheen told The Sun: "All forces should withdraw on the timeline they announced – 31 August."
He insisted people could still flee the country once commercial flights reopen.
“They can evacuate anyone through commercial flights, with visas issued by the concerned country,” Shaheen added.
But stranded Afghans warned they would be barred from getting visas because most Western embassies have closed.
According to , Shaheen also said that "if the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences."
"It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction,"; he added.
Despite the warnings, Biden said on Sunday that there's a possibility his administration will extend the end of August evacuation deadline.
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"We will welcome these Afghans who have helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years to their new home in the United States of America," he said during a briefing.
"Because that’s who we are. That’s what America is."
