US Special Forces Evacuate Embassy Staff in Sudan: Other Americans Left Behind, Again

23 APR 23

Under cover of night, units from US special operations forces, including DEVGRU (SEAL Team Six), departed from the vicinity of Camp Lemmonier in Djibouti, Africa. They flew 800 miles (part of it through Ethiopian air space) to reach Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Three MH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment carried the troops, stopping once in Ethiopia to refuel.

During the ground stop, manned and unmanned aircraft flew cover for the men on the ground.

The entire mission was carried out, not surprisingly, totally under the cover of darkness. Once the operators reached their target, they rescued nearly 100 Embassy staffers and their families. No shots were fired, and no Americans were injured.

A spokesman from the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a brief statement about the rescue:

“The operation was fast and clean, with service members spending less than an hour on the ground in Khartoum,” said Lt. Gen D.A. Sims, director of operations at the Joint Staff. “The helicopters flew in and out of Khartoum without taking any fire.”

Many Americans Still Trapped

Despite the successful evacuation of the Embassy personnel, thousands of American citizens remained trapped in the war-ravaged country. Shortly after the rescue, a US-brokered cease-fire took effect. The White House said they were “actively facilitating” the evacuation of those remaining US citizens wishing to exit the country. I guess that would be most of them, but my guesses are not always correct.

To quote National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, “We have deployed US intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets to support land evacuation routes which Americans are using, and we are moving naval assets within the region to provide support. American citizens have begun arriving in Port Sudan, and we are helping to facilitate their onward travel.” 

The Pentagon has noted that they are considering “multiple options” that may be utilized to remove the remaining Americans. One of the possible scenarios involves Port Sudan, and that could involve the presence of US troops.

Two US Navy vessels have been moved into a “standby” position near the port. Drones have been flying over the only possible land evacuation route to Port Sudan, a harrowing 500 journey over difficult territory. Several UN convoys, some carrying Americans, have already completed the dangerous trip. Once evacuees arrive at the port, many take a ferry to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to terminally vacate the country.

As I write this, as many as 16,000 Americans (some with dual American/Sudanese citizenship) remain in Sudan. Oddly, the US State Department reports, via ABC News, that only dozens have contacted them asking for assistance.

Shelter in Place

As shades of Afghanistan creep back into my memory, I read that ordinary American citizens have been advised that no military rescue will be on the way for them. For years, the US State Department has warned Americans of the dangers of travel to Sudan and strongly advised against it. For now, US citizens have been advised to “shelter in place.” That’s right, they are being told to stay where they are and ride it out.

On Tuesday issued a security alert, stating in part:

“Due to the uncertain security situation in Khartoum and closure of the airport, it is not currently safe to undertake a U.S. government-coordinated evacuation of private U.S. citizens.”

On a personal note, as a soldier, I feel that all Americans, not just Embassy staff, deserve the opportunity to be rescued from an oppressive regime. We could do it if we wanted to; we have the equipment and the talent. All we lack is the will as a nation.

The best our government could do is inform the remaining US citizens, who include several hundred women and children, of the locations of border crossings and remind them it will be a dangerous and unpredictable journey. Let’s be clear: the administration is saying it is too difficult and dangerous to send trained professionals to help, but it’s ok if they try to exit the country themselves.

We Still Have Americans in Afghanistan

The Washington Times has recently reported that about 175 American citizens remain in Afghanistan. This is as the two-year anniversary of the botched withdrawal from that nation approaches. This is not hearsay; US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken informed Congress of this in late March. Blinken told Congress that “several” Americans are still being held against their will by the Taliban.

As we who read this enjoy our freedom this weekend, please take a moment to remember those still trapped in a foreign land, longing to come home and the government not doing enough to facilitate that process.

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** To learn how Green Berets waged an unconventional war against the Taliban to win in Afghanistan’s deadly Pech Valley, click here.