Injured man is being assisted by medical personnel following at least two massive explosions in Kabul.
Thirteen U.S. service members were killed Thursday during bombings in Kabul, Afghanistan that were followed by an assault carried out by gunmen of the Islamic State's regional affiliate, according to U.S. Pentagon officials.
The blasts also killed at least 90 Afghans who were at the outer perimeter of the Kabul airport desperate to leave the country. The bombs ripped through the crowds leaving at least 140 wounded.
British and U.S. intelligence arms were warning of a possible attack, and the U.S. Embassy had told Americans not to approach the airport.
The commander of the U.S. Central Command Marine Corps, Gen. Frank McKenzie, told reporters Thursday that the U.S. would continue evacuating Americans, estimating that about 1,000 U.S. nationals remain in Afghanistan. “We expect those attacks to continue,” he said, referring to suicide bombings.
While the U.S. has secured the Kabul airport's compound, outside the airport is under Taliban control, a situation that leaves the Americans in a position where they are dependent on the Taliban for security.
“If we can find who is associated with this, we will go after them,” Gen McKenzie said.
President Joe Biden, who has been briefed by his national security team on the incidents, had not made a public appearance through midday Thursday, though he was expected to address the nation at 5:00 p.m. The president canceled a planned meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett along with a virtual meeting with U.S. governors.
U.S. intelligence believes one of the bombers detonated at the front of the airport gate as he was attempting to get onto the airport compound, stated Gen. McKenzie. The general said the U.S. would try to improve its procedures and that the evacuation effort would continue. “We have to continue to let people on the airfield,” he said.
A senior Afghan health official put the death toll among Afghan civilians at 60, with many more fighting for their lives, according to the Wall Street Journal.
WSJ reported that the Taliban, who seized Kabul on Aug. 15, are a sworn enemy of Islamic State, and shot dead one of the group’s top leaders in Afghanistan hours after taking over the Kabul prison where he was held.
The Taliban also distanced itself from and denounced the attacks.
According to Aljazeera, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks, with the terrorist organization using its Amaq News Agency on its Telegram channel to spread the message.
Advertisements
