US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he now believes there may be only around a thousand US citizens in Afghanistan who still require evacuation.
He says around four and a half thousand have already left…..but only a week ago the White House was estimating there could be three times that number of Americans in the country.
The State Department now says an official who told members of Congress today that as many as four thousand Americans are waiting to be evacuated "mis-spoke".
And the Secretary of State, like other Biden administration officials, says those Americans in Afghanistan bear some responsibility for their own plight.
IN: "For many years…."
OUT: "….in leaving"
DUR: 35 seconds
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He said the US will provide assistance to any American or Afghan who get left behind after the US military operation wraps up next week, and he said efforts are underway to try and ensure that Kabul airport remains open after the US and international forces leave.
At times in the briefing he appeared emotional and physically spent by the turmoil of the last 12 days.
IN: "Like many of you…."
OUT: "….into this effort"
DUR: 36 seconds