Yahoo TV

The U.S. military restarted flights evacuating diplomats and civilians from Afghanistan on Tuesday, a day after chaotic scenes at Kabul airport, where thousands desperate to flee following the Taliban's sudden takeover had crowded the runway, which has since been cleared.

U.S. GENERAL WILLIAM TAYLOR: "...the speed of evacuation will pick up."

Army Major General William Taylor said the U.S. could evacuate 5,000 to 9,000 people from Kabul per day if conditions at the airport remain stable.

KIRBY: "...there is communication..."

And Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said U.S. military commanders were communicating with Taliban leaders to avoid hostilities at the airport, the only way to fly in or out of Afghanistan.

KIRBY: "Just suffice it to say that our commanders there at the airport are charged with securing that airport and keeping it secure... and they will and should have any interactions they believe are necessary to accomplish that mission."

U.S. forces took charge of the airport on Sunday, as the Taliban wrapped up a week of rapid advances by taking over Kabul without a fight.

General Taylor said a total of 4,000 American troops would be at the airport by the end of the day - an increase of 1,000 - with the aim of having one flight taking off per hour.

U.S. military officials have said they believe that between 5,000 and 10,000 U.S. citizens remain in the Kabul area, where tens of thousands more Afghan citizens also wished to escape.