Under the title "Good News About Afghan Baby Who Shook the World with His Image from Kabul Airport," Al Arabiya reported that "an image shook the world," referring to an Afghan baby in green who was passed between hands in the crowd at Kabul airport to be handed over to an American soldier for a better future, even if far from his family. The image taken from Kabul airport spread rapidly on social media, raising important questions about the baby's fate.
While the scenes of chaos, despair, and suffering witnessed by Afghans since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban last week sparked a wave of criticism towards President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw, the baby's image added to the turmoil. However, U.S. Marine spokesman James Stenger announced that the baby is safe and has been reunited with his parents. He clarified that the baby was handed over to U.S. forces over the wall surrounding Kabul airport in Afghanistan last Thursday, confirming that the child's family is now with him. "He received care and is safe with his family."
Major Stenger wrote in an email shared by The New York Times that the baby seen in the video was transferred to a treatment center on site and received medical care. He also confirmed that the baby has been reunited with his parents and is now in a safe location away from the airport. While Major Stenger did not provide further details about the child's gender or the number of children transferred to similar treatment facilities in recent days, he sent a series of photos showing Marines playing with children at military checkpoints and providing them with water, viewing this as a true example of the professionalism of the personnel in making quick decisions in difficult times.
Biden: Distressing Images
It is noteworthy that U.S. President Joe Biden described the images of tragedies that circulated widely on social media, portraying the suffering of many after the withdrawal decision, as "distressing." He stated that the United States has 6,000 of the best fighting men and women working today to restore order at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to evacuate people from the country.
It is worth mentioning that the video clip showing the baby being tossed sparked widespread international outrage over the American withdrawal, which some considered "chaotic." By Friday, the U.S. military emphasized that the baby had safely reunited with family members. The image of the baby was not the only one illustrating the suffering of Afghans following the Taliban's takeover as many other images circulated, showing crowds at the airport, people falling from evacuation planes, and bodies caught on the planes' wheels.
