UPDATED 8/27/21, 11:20 a.m. ET: Barack Obama shared a tweet thread about the attacks, saying, “Like so many of you, Michelle and I were heartbroken to hear about the terrorist attack outside the Kabul airport that killed and wounded so many U.S. service members, as well as Afghan men, women, and children.”
He added, “Our hearts go out to the families who lost a loved one, and to everyone continuing the mission in Kabul. We’re also thinking of the families of the Afghans who died, many of whom stood by America and were willing to risk everything for a chance at a better life.”
You can read his tweets below.
UPDATED 5:50 p.m. ET: President Biden addressed the nation Thursday afternoon, after the attacks in Afghanistan that left at least 12 U.S. Marines dead.
“We are outraged and heartbroken,” Biden said from the White House.
“To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: we will not forgive,” he added. “We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay.”
Biden said that he’s ordered his commanders to “develop operational plans to strike ISIS-K assets, leadership, & facilities,” with the goal of responding with “force and precision at our time.”
See original story below.
At least two explosions occurred in an area outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby confirmed the first explosion early Thursday.
“We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time,” he tweeted. While it was unclear what casualties were initially involved in the explosion, CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, reported that U.S. personnel had been wounded.
Collins also reports that according to three U.S. officials, the incident appeared to be a suicide attack. U.S. citizens were advised to avoid the airport and specific gates due to the explosion and reports of gunfire.
Later on Thursday, Kirby confirmed that there was at least one other explosion, and that the “complex attack” had resulted in “a number of U.S. and civilian casualties.”
Reuters also reported that per a Taliban official, at least 13 people died, including children. According to the Wall Street Jounral, four U.S. Marines were among the casualties.
Kirby released the following statements regarding the U.S. casualties.
On Thursday afternoon, Gen. McKenzie confirmed 12 U.S. service members killed and 15 were injured by the suicded bombers who have been “assessed to be ISIS fighters.” He said “a number” of Afghan civilians were killed and injured as well.
Joe Biden will address the nation at 5pm EST.
The attack comes as U.S. intelligence were tracking ISIS threats pertaining to Kabul’s airport, and warned people not to travel there because of “potential security threats,” NBC News reports.
Biden announced back in April that the U.S. would be withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, with the date later changed to Aug. 31. At the time of his statement, there were 2,500 troops in the country, the lowest since the war began.
“We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result,” Biden said in April. “I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth … It is time to end America’s longest war. It is time for American troops to come home.”
This story is being updated.
