Baby Lifted Over Barbed Wire Fence At Kabul Airport Reunited With Father

The baby seen being lifted over a barbed wire fence in Afghanistan in a now-viral video clip has been reunited with their father, the US Marine Corps have confirmed.

The video - which was posted by human rights activist Omar Haidiri - has become a symbol of the desperation in Afghanistan, as many people try to flee the country after the Taliban seized power.

In the clip, a US service member could be seen reaching down to grab the baby, lifting it over the fence to safety.

The Marine Corps' Major Jim Stenger has confirmed that the baby is now 'safe' and has been reunited with their father.

He explained that the infant was passed over the barbed wire to receive medical treatment.

PA

In a statement to NBC News, Stenger said: "I can confirm the uniformed service member depicted in the video is a Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

"The baby seen in the video was taken to a medical treatment facility on site and cared for by medical professionals.

"I can confirm the baby was reunited with their father and is safe at the airport.

"This is a true example of the professionalism of the Marines on site, who are making quick decisions in a dynamic situation in support of evacuation operations."

US Central Command Public Affairs

In a press briefing on Friday afternoon, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the baby wasn't being passed over to Marines to board a flight, as many initially believed.

Instead, the child was only handed over to the Marines to receive medical treatment in a 'humane act of compassion'.

Kirby said that, after the baby received treatment at a Norwegian field hospital at the airport, the Marines returned them to their father.

He said: "The parent asked the Marines to look after the baby because the baby was ill. The Marine you see reaching over the wall, took it to a Norwegian hospital at the airport. They treated the child and returned the child to the father.

"The baby was returned to its father. I don't know where they are now. Obviously we have a responsibility to return a child to the parent. I don't know who the parent is, if they're an SIV applicant. It was a humane act of compassion by the Marines."

Topics: World News, News

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

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