Many killed in blasts at Kabul airport; dead include 12 US soldiers
KABUL, August 26, 2021
At least 12 US service members were killed and 15 were injured in two explosions that took place outside the Kabul airport on Thursday as the US and other countries try to evacuate their citizens and Afghans at risk from the Taliban, reported CNN, citing the head of the US Central Command.
More than 60 people are dead and at least 140 wounded, an official with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health tells CNN.
Twelve US service members and dozens of Afghans have been killed in two bombing attacks outside Kabul's airport, reported CNN citing the Pentagon and Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health.
The deadly blasts came as the US and other Western countries raced to complete a massive evacuation of their citizens and Afghan allies following the Taliban takeover of the country.
An official with Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health told CNN on Thursday that more than 60 people were dead and 140 wounded.
Fifteen US service members were injured in addition to the 12 dead, said Gen. Frank McKenzie, Commander of US Central Command.
US officials have been warning over the past week that a threat of a terror attack at the airport was becoming more acute. Earlier on Thursday local time, US diplomats in Kabul warned American citizens to "immediately" leave several gates into the airport, citing security threats.
A US defence official had also told CNN that officials were concerned by a "very specific threat stream" involving the ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan.
US officials believe the group, ISIS-K, was likely behind today's attack but are still working to confirm its involvement, according to a senior US official and another source briefed on initial assessments.
The second source told CNN it may take a few hours before US officials are able to identify the specific individuals who carried out the apparent suicide bombing.
Earlier in the evening, three US officials and a source familiar with the situation said that according to initial reports, there were some US personnel among the casualties.
"We can confirm that the explosion at the Abbey Gate was the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of US & civilian casualties. We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate. We will continue to update," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby tweeted.
The blast happened at one of the entry gates of the Hamid Karzai International Airport and appears to be a suicide attack, according to three US officials.
Crowds of Afghans have been gathering at the gates trying to gain access to the airport, which has become the only way out of the country since the Taliban took over Kabul.
About 5,400 US servicemembers are assisting with evacuation efforts in Kabul. The British have about 1,000 troops assisting with the evacuation efforts.
The UK Ministry of Defense said there were no reported casualties among its government and military personnel in Kabul following the attack.
A White House official told NBC News that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the situation.
"The president met with his national security team Thursday morning, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army General Mark Milley as well as commanders on the ground in Kabul," the White House said in a statement.
"He will continue to be briefed on updates on the evolving situation throughout the day," it added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson too has been updated on the situation at the airport. A meeting slated for 11:30 p.m. ET between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at the White House has also been delayed.
The US Embassy in Kabul described the explosion as “large” and said there were reports of gunfire, urging Americans to avoid travel to the airport and its gates.
The embassy had previously issued a security alert urging Americans to avoid the airport: “U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately,” the alert said.
In the last 24 hours, Western forces evacuated 13,400 people out of Kabul on 91 military cargo aircraft flights. Since the mass evacuations began on Aug. 14, approximately 95,700 people have been airlifted out of Afghanistan.
About 101,300 people have been evacuated since the end of July, including about 4,500 U.S. citizens and their families.
