Smoke rising from airport outside Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, August 26. Two suicide bombers and gunmen have targeted crowds near the airport as evacuations continue. Photo courtesy of Wali Sabawoon, AP)
Two suicide bombings near Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport gate have resulted in the deaths of at least 13 U.S. service members and 18 have been wounded. At least 60 Afghans have also been killed and a total of 140 people have been wounded by the attack, according to the Pentagon.
The attacks occurred while U.S. officials raced to evacuate at-risk Afghans before President Joe Biden’s Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline after the country fell to Taliban control. Evacuees range from American citizens, interpreters, political opponents of the Taliban and refugees.
The death toll is rising — sadly – horribly. 12 U.S. service members were killed in action in the suicide attack. 11 Marines and a Navy medic, U.S. officials tell Fox News
ISIS-K, the Afghan derivate of the terror group, claimed responsibility for the attacks on its affiliated news outlet Amaq News Agency. Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie in a press briefing said U.S. officials were coordinating with the Taliban to secure the airport. McKenzie also said the mission to evacuate those at-risk will continue to abide by the President’s deadline.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have been briefed on the situation. Schumer condemned the attacks in a statement released from his office.
“I strongly condemn this act of terrorism and it must be clear to the world that the terrorists who perpetrated this will be sought and brought to justice.”
President Biden addressed the bombings in a televised statement to the nation. In regards to the servicemembers who died, Biden said they were “heroes who had been engaged in a dangerous, selfless mission to save the lives of others.”
