Explosions outside Kabul airport have killed over 72 Afghan civilians. The US Central Command said 13 American marines died in the attack, while 18 were injured.
Explosion at Kabul Airport: After the double explosion took place outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport on Thursday, a third explosion was reported by the AFP news agency, while unconfirmed reports indicated that there may behave more. Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul airport on Thursday. Desperate scenes with people trying to flee the war-torn country after the Taliban takeover turned to horror as the blasts killed dozens of civilians and at least 13 US soldiers.
The attackers killed a total of 85 people outside Kabul airport. According to a health official, the number of Afghans killed rose to 72, including 28 Taliban. The US military said 13 of its servicemen were killed in an attack on Thursday, according to Reuters.
ISIS-K takes responsibility for Kabul explosion
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the killings on its Amaq news channel. ISIS-K said one of its suicide bombers was targeting “translators and assistants in the US military.” US officials also blamed the group.
The explosions came hours after Western officials warned of a major attack, urging people to leave the airport, AP reports. However, until people could evacuate, a major explosion occurred, killing dozens of people.
Civilians who moments earlier hoped to catch the plane could be seen transporting the injured in ambulances in a daze, their own clothes dark with blood, Reuters reports.
The US general overseeing the evacuation said the attacks would not prevent the US from evacuating the Americans and others, and the flights were continuing.
Hours after the explosion, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said an explosion occurred near an airport entrance and another a short distance from a hotel. General Kenneth Franklin McKenzie, commander of the United States Central Command, made it clear that a failure at the airport allowed a suicide bomber to approach so close to the door.
The Abbey Gate attack was followed by a number of ISIS gunmen who opened fire on civilians and military forces, killing 13 US Marines and injuring 18 through Thursday evening.
He said the Taliban had checked people outside the gates, although there is no indication that the Taliban deliberately authorized Thursday’s attacks. He said the United States had asked Taliban commanders to strengthen the security around the perimeter of the airport.
“Will hunt you down and make you pay,” Biden warns attackers
In a moving White House speech, US President Joe Biden said the latest bloodshed would not drive the US out of Afghanistan any sooner than expected, and that he had asked the US military to make plans to strike ISIS.
In a solemn speech from the White House, he hailed the killed US servicemen as “heroes” and said the evacuations will continue as planned.
Biden added, “To those who carried out this attack as well as to all those who wish America harm on America, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay.”
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