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Ben Riley-Smith

16 Aug, 9 tweets, 2 min read

This is what has been happening on the ground at Kabul airport, per a UK defence source. Helps explain the footage we’re seeing.

The airport perimeter was meant to be manned by Afghan security forces. But that disintegrated on Sunday as Afghans surged in trying to flee... 1/

Instead it was left to US soldiers to man a chain fence that is right by the Kabul airfield. That effectively became the new perimeter to be secured. The problem was it was very easy to penetrate... 2/

Afghans broke through the barrier on Sunday night and made it in their hundreds onto the airfield. Then again on Monday morning. And again on Monday afternoon. (Per this UK military source). 3/

Each time flights were largely paused (not entirely as footage shows). To use the military jargon the airfield went “black” as people were cleared from the tarmac before going “white” when security reestablished and flights were back on. 4/

It is US soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division who are securing the airport. More have been arriving throughout the day. Source said the airport is more secure now than 24hrs ago, so things more in control. 5/

The focus of UK soldiers understood to be protecting the “secure base” that has been set up at the airport. That’s where the ambassador and small number of officials are overseeing the drive to approve visas, get people out. 6/6

UPDATE. We can report the UK government is concerned security lapses at Kabul airport leave it at risk of terrorist attack

Specifically: Islamic State fighters exploiting the chaos. Terror risk discussed in MoD today. Also Boris’s COBR meeting. UK defence source quoted below. 7/

Islamic State – Khorasan Province has a presence in Afghanistan. It has launched successful attacks in the past there. With Taliban appearing to allow Western evacuation for now, the risk from IS-KP is being closely monitored by UK military planners. 8/

Understood US will beef up security procedures at Kabul airport in coming 48 hours. Inc clearing the area for take off / arrival around the end of runway. More patrols being put on. (All per UK defence source).

Details of terror concerns in here: telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…
9/

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More from @benrileysmith

Ben Riley-Smith

@benrileysmith

2 Sep

Telegraph tomorrow publishes a load of intel on PM’s social care reforms.

Expected next week... breaks manifesto pledge by raising tax on c.25m... in order to cap lifetime care costs (at higher than expected)... No10-No11 at loggerheads on exact tax rise... Big political gamble.

To unpack some of our reporting tomorrow, a few tweets...

TIMINGS: Widely expected to drop next week. One source said pencilled in for Tuesday cabinet briefing then announcement. Makes sense to go early as rest of the spending review revolves around fixing this package.

Read 12 tweets

Ben Riley-Smith

@benrileysmith

31 Aug

@Telegraph

Exclusive in tomorrow’s @Telegraph.

Britain has started secret face-to-face talks with the Taliban.

Simon Glass, chair of Joint Intel Committee, met Taliban in Doha. Intel officials also met them in Kabul.

(Reporting with @rmendick, @benfarmerDT, @DomNicholls)

** Sorry this should read Gass, not Glass. Clumsy thumbs.

Gass is one of the most senior intelligence figures in the UK government. Joint Intel Committee gives ministers intel assessments.

Recently Gass was appointed the PM’s special representative for Afghan transition. We understand he met Taliban figures in recent days in Doha.

Read 8 tweets

Ben Riley-Smith

@benrileysmith

21 Aug

Why do we keep seeing planes flying off not full from Kabul? The explanation emerged yesterday... /1

US, UK, Nato ally planes are flying in and out on an endless rotation. Touch down, get people on, take off, fly them to regional hubs, repeat. Given the constant flow planes can’t sit for hours and hours on the tarmac before taking back off... 2/

...which is a long way of saying the problem in the operation isn’t supply of planes. It is the supply of people who have been issued documents and have got through to the airport ready to be flown. 3/

Read 16 tweets

Ben Riley-Smith

@benrileysmith

18 Aug

Theresa May with a despairing intervention:

“Was our intelligence really so poor? Was our understanding of the Afghan government so weak? … Or did we just think we had to follow the United States and on a wing and a prayer it would be alright?"

Theresa May continuing her scathing intervention.

Says it's "incomprehensible and worrying" UK and allies couldn't find an alternative solution as US pulled out

"Surely one outcome of this must be a reassessment of how Nato operates". Warns Russia and China will be emboldened.

Theresa May's withering close. "We boast about Global Britain. But where is Global Britain on the streets of Kabul?" UK foreign policy will be judged by "deeds" not "words".

Read 4 tweets

Ben Riley-Smith

@benrileysmith

16 Aug

LONG READ: On Boris and Biden’s not-so-special relationship. Some of the facts in there...

1/ Boris+Biden have had 2 phone calls in the first seven months of 2021. Boris+Trump in the same period in 2020 had 7 calls.
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…

2/ Biden administration figures who served Obama still bristle at Boris’s “part-Kenyan” comment. One who’s discussed it with them said: “Some of them really, really resented it and haven't forgotten.”

3/ Boris is frustrated by Biden (who prides his Irish heritage) too easily adopting Dublin’s line on N Ireland Protocol.

That’s per 2 sources who’ve discussed it with PM. One: “He worries that Biden deep down is too uncritical in his acceptance of Ireland's view of everything”.

Read 8 tweets

Ben Riley-Smith

@benrileysmith

15 Aug

@Telegraph

The scramble is underway to control Kabul’s airport. @Telegraph reporting tomorrow the US has taken over air traffic control. US soldiers leading on security there with UK help. RAF aircraft flew in today. UK defence source tells me “the next 48 hours will be crucial”.

One of many unknowns: will the Taliban let evacuations take place? Indication from their spokesman today is yes. Also US+UK on ground there so an incentive perhaps to let them carry on, knowing they’ll soon go. But for how long? And if the Taliban decide ‘time for troops to go’?

@benfarmerDT

Write-up of today’s shocking developments with @benfarmerDT below. Also in there: Afghan President explains why he fled: “In order to avoid the bloodshed, I thought it was best to get out." telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…

Read 4 tweets

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