Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs

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June 5, 2023
Defense Official Says U.S. Remains Committed to Middle East

With more than 30,000 troops in the Middle East at multiple locations, the United States' commitment to the Middle East hasn't changed, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East said.
Sept. 9, 2021
Austin Says Gulf State Responses Highlight Benefits of Allies, Partners

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III recognized the vital contribution of Arabian Gulf allies, saying their aid enabled the evacuation of 124,000 people from Afghanistan.
Sept. 7, 2021
U.S. Military Capabilities, Capacity, Alliance Network Made Kabul Evacuation Possible

No other military in the world could do what the U.S. military accomplished in evacuating 124,000 people — Americans, Afghans and third country personnel — from Kabul, a senior defense official said.
Sept. 7, 2021
Austin, Blinken Thank Qatari People for Support in Afghan Evacuation

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Qatari leaders to thank them for their help in evacuating Afghans from Kabul, saying ''at a critical and historic moment Qatar went above and beyond, and your generosity helped to save thousands of lives.''
Sept. 3, 2021
U.S., Italian Leaders Discuss Range of Issues During Pentagon Meeting

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini discussed the evacuation effort from Afghanistan, strategies for the Middle East and Africa, and other topics.
Aug. 31, 2021
President Thanks Service Members for Aiding in Afghanistan Evacuation

President Joe Biden expressed his appreciation to the service members who airlifted more than 120,000 people to safety from Kabul, Afghanistan.
Aug. 30, 2021
Military Phase of Evacuation Ends, as Does America's Longest War

The withdrawal from Afghanistan and the military mission to evacuate American citizens, third country nationals and vulnerable Afghans have been completed, Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie said.
Aug. 25, 2021
Eucom Ready for 25,000 Afghan Evacuees at a Time

Across Europe, eight military installations in four nations stand ready to take on as many as 25,000 evacuees coming out of Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. European Command said.
Aug. 23, 2021
AUAB supports Afghanistan evacuation

A U.S. service member high-fives a child who was evacuated from Afghanistan Aug. 21, 2021, in an undisclosed location somewhere in Southwest Asia. As part of the Afghanistan evacuaton, service members are supporting evacuees that departed Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan. (U.S.
Aug. 20, 2021
U.S. Central to One of Largest, Most Difficult Airlifts in History, Biden Tells Nation

The civilian evacuations in Afghanistan involve one of the largest and most difficult airlifts in history, and the only country in the world capable of projecting that much power is the United States, President Joe Biden said in a televised address to the country.