Afghanistan

Afghan lawyer Latifa Sharifi and her three sons arrived at DFW Airport on Tuesday, after spending more than a year hiding and fearing for their safety.

The U.S. evacuated more than 76,000 Afghans after the military ended its operation there, but not everyone has moved to permanent housing yet. Curtis Ried, special advisor to the White House on Afghan resettlement, was in North Texas recently and spoke with KERA.

When the Taliban began taking over provinces in Afghanistan, Muzdha and her family packed their bags and headed for Kabul. They arrived to a chaotic scene at the airport. And she was separated from her husband, two small children and mom. Muzdha is now in North Texas, where she faces new challenges – and the anguish of not knowing if if she’ll ever see her family again.

Lucky took his family back to Afghanistan when his mother was hospitalized with kidney problems. Then the Taliban took over the country, and the family joined thousands of Afghans desperately trying to escape.

Organizations like DFW Refugee Outreach Services are collecting donated items like clothing, hygiene products, towels and blankets for families.

A North Texas ministry is hosting a holiday feast this weekend for refugees from Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iran and other Arab-speaking countries.

The bomb targeted the Eidgah Mosque, where a memorial service was being held for the mother of Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

The remarks by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and U.S. Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie are at odds with comments President Biden made during an interview in August.

From a helicopter high above the desert landscape dotted with scrub brush, row after row of large white tents stand out against the golden brown terrain. Each tent can house up to 100 “guests” as the Army refers to the Afghan evacuees. About 10,000 people from Afghanistan are living at Fort Bliss, one of eight army installations temporarily housing the evacuees.

"I was not going to extend this forever war," President Biden said from the White House, "and I was not extending a forever exit."

The United States has completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war and closing a chapter in military history likely to be remembered for colossal failures, unfulfilled promises and a frantic final exit that cost the lives of more than 180 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members, some barely older than the war.

Looking relieved but exhausted, 1,200 Afghan refugees arrived this week at El Paso’s Fort Bliss. Meanwhile, Texans remain on the ground in an increasingly dangerous Afghanistan.