"In sFor 14 days and under difficult conditions, we evacuated and rescued 4.890 Afghan citizens, including many women and children. We did our best, in the afternoon the last C130 also left with the Italian soldiers who were involved in this operation, the Joint Evacuation Task Force, on board. The twenty-year commitment of the Italian armed forces in Afghanistan ends with today and my thoughts go to the 54 dead, their families, the 723 wounded and the victims of terrorist acts". These are the words spoken by the general of the Army Corps Luciano Portolano, commander of the Joint Forces Summit Operational Command.
For the operation Eagle Omnia, planned and directed by the Covi Comando Operativo di Vertice Interforze, commanded by General Luciano Portolano, the Defense fielded 8 aircraft, 4 KC767s that alternate between the area of operation and Italy and 4 C130J,
The testimonies of Afghan citizens who have reached our country are touching. "I am happy to be in Italy and I thank the Italian Armed Forces: in these difficult times they did not leave us alone in Afghanistan. Despite all the difficulties, they took us away. After a long journey of almost two days, we are tired but happy to be in a safe country". Thus one of the citizens arrived at the Army Logistics Base of Colle Isarco (BZ) after having previously disembarked in Fiumicino with a military flight from Kabul. The man, who arrived in Italy with his family, says he hopes now "to be able to be useful to Italian society", He like the others who arrived, and hopes to return to Afghanistan when"one day, we hope, it will become a safe country".
Meanwhile, the fear of new attacks continues to rise while, as reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the toll from yesterday's attacks at Kabul airport rises to 100 dead, 13 American soldiers already confirmed and at least 90 Afghan citizens.