WATCH: Pentagon press secretary John Kirby holds briefing on Afghanistan

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. military was prepared for the possibility of a swift Taliban victory in Afghanistan, but they “didn’t anticipate was the degree to which Afghan forces capitulated, sometimes without a fight.”

Watch Kirby’s remarks in the player above.

Kirby also said one of America’s top military commanders met face-to-face with senior leaders of the Taliban, urging the longtime enemy not to interfere with the massive evacuation at the Kabul airport.

“The message was very clearly put to the Taliban that these operations and our people were not to be attacked or there would be a response. And as you and I speak, there has been no attack on our operation or on our people at the airport,” said Kirby.

Kirby also addressed the chaos at the main airport in Kabul that has killed at least seven people.

“It wouldn’t surprise me in the least that commanders would be taking a look at what happened this morning with respect to the C17,” said Kirby. “It wouldn’t surprise me at all if there was, in fact, a formal investigation. And I just can’t confirm that right now.”