The Khurasan group of the terrorist organization ISIS has claimed responsibility for the Kabul Airport attack. U.S. Central Command General Kenneth Mackenzie said the dead included 12 Marine commandos.
Two suicide bombers led to a blast on Thursday evening in front of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in the Afghan capital, Kabul. So far, 80 people have been killed and more than 200 injured, according to the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal. According to the news agency, the Khurasan group of the terrorist organization ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack. U.S. Central Command General Kenneth Mackenzie said the dead included 12 Marine commandos, while 15 of them were wounded. All flight operations from Kabul Airport have been cancelled.
The Pentagon says the first blast occurred at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport on Thursday. Shortly afterwards, another bomb exploded near the Baron Hotel near the airport. British troops were stationed here. Three suspects were spotted outside the airport. Two of them were suicide bombers, while the third came with a gun. The death toll is expected to rise.
Gen. McKenzie: Despite this attack, we are continuing the mission. The evacuation, at best speed, and as of today, we have approximately 5,000 evacuees on the ramp awaiting airlift. Since August 14, we have evacuated more than 104,000 civilians from #HKIA. pic.twitter.com/hK90IbC3sf
— Department of Defense (@DeptofDefense) August 26, 2021
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At the moment, 5,000 people are waiting for the flight at Kabul airport, said General Mackenzie of US Central Command. Of these, 1 thousand are Americans. Since August 14 till now the US has evacuated one lakh four thousand civilians. Of these, 66 thousand are citizens of the United States and 37 thousand are citizens of allies, he said.
According to Russian media, the terrorist organization ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack on Kabul airport. They have also released a photo of the Fidayeen attacker.
JUST IN – ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack on the #Kabul airport in a letter and shared a photo of the Islamist terrorist. pic.twitter.com/egXChWMHa1
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 26, 2021
Vice President Kamala Harris cancelled the rally at Newsom. She is now returning to Washington. The Pentagon said the attackers were being identified and the US is free to act.
Britain and the United States have said they will continue to airlift people even after the Kabul bombings. India has condemned the blast incident.
Germany has now banned the evacuation of more people. However, for those injured in the blast, it has set up an emergency plane at the airport.
We strongly condemn the bomb blasts in Kabul today. Extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this terrorist attack.
Press Release : https://t.co/Zk4FG7OdSl— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 26, 2021
Following the attack near Kabul airport, Britain has instructed airlines to refrain from flying below 25,000 feet above Afghanistan.
The U.S. president told a news conference late at night that he would not release the attackers
Joe Biden condemns the attack
US President Joe Biden condemned the Kabul airport attack and said that the death of the soldiers is extremely sad. “W will never forget or forgive the sacrifices of the American soldiers in saving the lives of others. We will find and kill the terrorists. We have sympathies with the families of the soldiers. We will rescue American civilians from Afghanistan and evacuate our Afghan allies, our mission will continue, we will send additional troops if needed,” said Biden.
We're going to do everything that we can to provide safe evacuation for Americans, our Afghan allies, partners, and Afghans who might be targeted because of their association with the United States.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 25, 2021
The Taliban also described the attack as a terrorist attack
The Taliban has so far confirmed 15 deaths. This includes women and children. The Taliban too has described it as a terrorist attack. The Taliban has said in an interview with Turkish news channel that foreign troops should leave Kabul on time. “We don’t want to see more terrorist attacks,” it said.
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