It took place in the final weeks of the War in Afghanistan and saw the airlifting of certain at-risk Afghan civilians (particularly coalition-allied interpreters), employees of the American embassy in Kabul, and other prospective applicants for the U.S. Special Immigrant Visa (SIV).

[10][11] American personnel also helped NATO and other regional allies in their respective evacuation efforts from Hamid Karzai International Airport in the capital city of Kabul.

The operation was concurrent with the broader American military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the multinational evacuation of eligible foreigners and vulnerable Afghans.

[10][12][15][16] On 12 August, following continued Taliban victories across Afghanistan, the Biden administration announced that it would deploy 3,000 U.S. troops to Hamid Karzai International Airport to help evacuate embassy personnel, U.S. nationals and SIV applicants.

On 17 August, Army paratroopers from 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division moved from Fort Bragg, North Carolina to Kabul.

[23] At this point, Operation Allies Refuge became concurrent with a new effort to airlift all SIV applicants, embassy personnel, American nationals, and eligible Afghans seeking to flee the country.

[citation needed] On 16 August, a C-17 cargo plane, whose usual passenger load is fewer than 150 Army paratroopers, safely evacuated roughly 823 people to the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, setting a new record for the C-17.

[25]) The Pentagon confirmed that the head of U.S. Central Command, General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., met Taliban leaders based in Qatar's capital Doha.

The White House said more than 3,200 U.S. citizens, permanent residents and refugees were evacuated from the country, and nearly 2,000 Afghan interpreters were flown to the U.S. for SIV processing.

McCreary said that Khalid and his family were "safe in an undisclosed location" and added that multiple allies, including the British, had helped in the operation's success.

[34] On 21 August, United States Army Major General William D. Taylor announced that 17,000 people have been evacuated in the past few weeks, including 2,500 Americans.

Commercial airline pilots and crews would help transport thousands of Afghans who are arriving at U.S. bases in Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

From the bases in the Middle East, the airliners would augment military flights carrying Afghans to Germany, Italy, Spain and other stops in Europe, and then ultimately to the United States.

DHS established the Unified Coordination Group allowing for collaboration with military, state and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector during Allies Welcome activities.

[6][5] The Taliban occasionally fired shots at the airport as a form of crowd control; some people reportedly received gunshot wounds from the gunfire.