‘OPERATION ALLIES REFUGE’: With time running dangerously short and most U.S. troops already out of the country, the United States is planning a massive eleventh-hour airlift to ferry thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. out of Afghanistan before they are subject to retribution from advancing Taliban forces.

“We are launching what we are calling ‘Operation Allies Refuge’ to support relocation flights for interested and eligible Afghan nationals and their families who have supported the United States and our partners in Afghanistan,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who provided few details about where the evacuees would be taken while their special immigrant visa applications are processed.