Many were feared dead in twin explosions near Kabul's airport on Thursday, according to Pentagon, which said civilians and US service members were among the casualties. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said one blast occurred near the airport's Abbey Gate and the other close to nearby Baron Hotel.
US President Joe Biden pledged on Thursday to hunt down the perpetrators of the suicide bombings in Kabul that killed 12 American troops. "We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said in an address from the White House during which he praised the slain US troops as "heroes."
According to a Reuters report, a Taliban official pegged the casualties at at least 13, including children, in what is being suspected to be a suicide attack. It has been labelled a "complex attack" by the US military, according to AFP. Pentagon said several US troops were killed in the attack, and more were wounded.
The western allies led by US had earlier in the day urged Afghans to leave the area due to a threat by Islamic State. They said they had intelligence that suicide bombers tied to the Afghan arm of Islamic State group -- the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) -- were threatening to attack the airport ahead of US's August 31 deadline to finalize the evacuation. The group is known to be at odds with the Taliban.
The explosion comes amid evacuations carried out by several countries. President Joe Biden has said US intends to complete its pullout from Afghanistan by August 31. Over 90,000 Afghans and foreigners have fled Afghanistan via the US-led airlift since Taliban took control of the country on August 15.
Here are the highlights on Afghanistan-Taliban crisis:
Aug 26, 2021 23:44 (IST)
Afghanistan Live Update: At Least 4 US Marines Killed In Kabul Blast: Report
Four US Marines were killed and three wounded in Thursday's explosions at Kabul airport, US sources told Reuters, in what the Pentagon said was a "complex attack" during its evacuation mission from Afghanistan. In a statement, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed multiple US fatalities but did not give details. The US service members were among those killed when at least two blasts tore through crowds thronging the airport gates. A US official, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters four US personnel were killed and three wounded. Other U.S. sources gave the same figures.
Aug 26, 2021 22:57 (IST)
Afghanistan Live Update: UK To Continue Evacuations Despite Blast, Says Boris Johnson
Britain will continue the operation to evacuate nationals and Afghans from Kabul despite Thursday's "barbaric" bomb attack, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, according to AFP. "We've been ready for it," he said of the attack. "We're going to continue with that operation, we're now coming towards the very end of it in any event."
"We're going to work flat out... getting people through as fast as they can still, and we're going to keep going up until the last moment," said the prime minister, shortly after chairing a meeting of the emergency COBR committee. He said that members of the US military had "very sadly" lost their lives in the attacks, as well as "many Afghan casualties".
Aug 26, 2021 22:55 (IST)
Afghanistan Live Update: Germany's Evacuation Operation Over, Says Minister
Germany has pulled out all its soldiers from Afghanistan with its last evacuation flight from Kabul, Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said Thursday, according to AFP. "All soldiers, members of the foreign ministry and federal police who have led this mission to a safe end for us on the ground have been flown out of Kabul," said the minister, adding that the military evacuation mission has therefore now ended.
Aug 26, 2021 22:50 (IST)
Afghanistan Update: "A Number" Of US Troops Killed In Kabul Attack: Pentagon
Several US troops were killed in the bomb attack at Kabul airport Thursday, and more were wounded, the Pentagon said in a statement, reported AFP. "We can confirm that a number of US service members were killed in today's complex attack on Kabul airport," said spokesman John Kirby. "A number of others are being treated for wounds," he said, calling it a "heinous attack."
Aug 26, 2021 22:47 (IST)
Afghanistan Live Update: Kabul Twin Blast Death Count "Between 13 And 20": Taliban Spokesman
The death count from two blasts Thursday in crowds outside Kabul's airport could be as high as 20, a spokesman for the Taliban told AFP. "Our initial information shows between 13 and 20 killed and 52 wounded," chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Aug 26, 2021 21:49 (IST)
Afghanistan Live Update: UK Says No Staff Or Military Hurt In Kabul Blasts
Britain's defence ministry said none of its military or government staff in Kabul were amongst the casualties from explosions near the city's airport earlier on Thursday, reported Reuters. "There have been no reported UK military or UK Government casualties following the incidents in Kabul," the Ministry of Defence said. "UK forces are working closely with our partners to provide security and medical assistance."
Aug 26, 2021 21:12 (IST)
France Seeks To Evacuate Hundreds More From Kabul: Emmanuel Macron
France is still seeking to evacuate hundreds more people from Afghanistan ahead of a looming deadline, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, warning of an "extremely risky" situation in the wake of blasts around Kabul airport, reported AFP.
"We will do everything we can" to bring to France these Afghan citizens and dual nationals who had been in its embassy and are currently outside the perimeter of the airport in 20 buses, Macron said on a visit to Ireland, also confirming that the French ambassador would leave Afghanistan and work from Paris.
