State Department urges U.S. citizens to leave Afghanistan

• The Taliban on Friday took over Zaranj, a provincial capital in Southwestern Afghanistan.
• The terrorist group also killed the director of Afghanistan’s Government Information Media Center, saying that the official was "punished to his deeds."
• Deborah Lyons, the special representative of the United Nations' secretary-general for Afghanistan, warned at a special session of the United Nations Security Council on Friday that without intervention, the nation could fall “into a situation of catastrophe so serious that it would have few, if any, parallels in this century,” per the New York Times.

Details: The American embassy said that all citizens should leave using any available commercial flights, adding that they will offer loans for people who cannot afford to purchase a plane ticket.

• The State Department in April ordered the departure of federal employees from the embassy in Kabul if their work can be performed elsewhere.
• The travel advisory for Afghanistan is at level 4 due to "crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict and COVID-19."

What they're saying: The embassy also condemned the Taliban's "violent new offensive against Afghan cities."

• "These Taliban actions to forcibly impose its rule are unacceptable and contradict its claim to support a negotiated settlement in the Doha peace process," the embassy added.
• "They demonstrate wanton disregard for the welfare and rights of civilians and will worsen this country’s humanitarian crisis."

Go deeper: Biden defends Afghanistan exit as fears of collapse grow