At least 93 civilians have been killed in the two explosions outside Kabul airport, according to Wall Street Journal while 13 US soldiers were also killed in Thursday’s blasts, the worst single-day loss for American troops in Afghanistan since the August 2011 attack on a Chinook helicopter that killed 30 service members.
The US troops helping to evacuate Afghans desperate to flee Taliban rule are bracing for more attacks.
Thursday’s attack was claimed by ISIL (ISIS) offshoot in Afghanistan, The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-K), which said its suicide bombers singled out “translators and collaborators with the American army”.
At least 28 Taliban members are among those killed in the Islamic State attack outside Kabul airport, an Islamist official told Reuters today.
“We lost more people than the Americans,” said the official, who asked not to be named. He said he saw no reason to extend the August 31st deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country.
The operation to evacuate civilians who are trying to leave Afghanistan after the occupation of the Taliban via the Kabul International Airport accelerated after yesterday’s multiple attacks, a Western officer located on the spot told Reuters News Agency.
Frequent aircraft takeoffs are ongoing, the officer assured, who remained unnamed.
US President Joe Biden pledged to retaliate against the attack in Kabul, confirming that the bombings were carried out by ISIS-K. “We will hunt you down and make you pay. I will defend our interests in our people with every measure at my command,” he said.
KABUL SUICIDE ATTACKS: @IanPannell reports after the devastating terror attacks in Kabul that killed at least 13 U.S. service members and dozens of Afghans, with Pres. Biden addressing the nation, calling the Americans who lost their lives “heroes.” https://t.co/uYhQDir8yx pic.twitter.com/ZVkUYie6jM
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) August 27, 2021
