As we reported, American officials were making plans to evacuate the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan. U.S. officials have now confirmed that they have evacuated embassy personnel out of the capital city, as the city falls into massive violence and conflict.
The Sudanese have been helping to try to get foreign personnel out, as things spin out of control
All American Embassy, Steph evacuated from Sudan pic.twitter.com/ERCwM7vbnp
— BKJN Annie Lee (@BkjnLee) April 23, 2023
The conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan’s armed forces began on April 15. The World Health Organization reported that at least 413 people have died, while injury estimates are as high as 3,551.
A source told Reuters that the operation to remove Americans was coordinated with the RSF.
Other foreign nationals from different countries were evacuated via a Sudanese port on the Red Sea earlier on Saturday.
The evacuations were carried out despite the onslaught of violence disabling Khartoum’s airport, which has trapped large numbers of people in the city. Not only are many Sudanese citizens unable to leave, but thousands of foreigners are also trapped.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the U.S. had people near Sudan if they needed help to get people out. He said that they had deployed “forces into the theater” to maximize their options but they hadn’t needed to employ any of them yet.
One U.S. citizen was killed during the conflict. The American, who was not identified, did not work for the U.S. Embassy.
“We can confirm the death of one U.S. citizen in Sudan,” a State Department spokesperson said to Fox News. “We are in touch with the family and offer our deepest condolences to them on their loss. Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further to add.”
It’s not clear how many other Americans might be trapped in the crossfire, but this report estimates some 16,000 people.
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