UPDATED: The Pentagon reports 169 Afghans and 13 U.S. military personnel among those who lost their lives.
UPDATE 8:00 AM EDT (8/27)
On Friday, U.S. Army Major General William Taylor confirmed that 13 U.S. service personnel were killed in the attack.
Updated reports from Afghanistan officials could a death toll near 200 by the end fo the day.
General Taylor addressed the events of Thursday and added, “We do not believe there was a second explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, that it was one suicide bomber. We are not sure how that report was provided incorrectly, but we do know that it’s not any surprise that in the confusion of very dynamic events like this can cause information to be misreported or garbled.”
In addition, General Taylor confirmed that there are still 5,400 people awaiting evacuation at the Kabul airport.
Watch the Full Pentagon Briefing
UPDATE 6:30 PM EDT
President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House regarding the developing situation at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.
Watch now
“We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down,” President Joe Biden said in a direct comment to ISIS-K with a firm determination.
The president has spent the day in the Situation Room at the White House, speaking continually with military commanders and other national leaders.
“We will not be deterred by terrorists,” he said. “We will respond with force and precision in our time, at a place and time of our choosing. These ISIS terrorists will not win. … America will not be intimidated.”
He told the generals to take all measures necessary to complete the objectives of the mission in Afghanistan.
He quoted from Isaiah 6: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Well, our military answers that with “Here I am, send me,” he said. He called for a moment of silence for the military, including those who have given their last full measure of devotion.
“We have so much to do… we just have to remain steadfast to complete our mission,” he said. He promised once again to get every American out. “We will get as many people out as we can within the timeframe allotted.”
In answering questions, he said he believes ISIS-K is responsible and said we will find our ways to get them without large military operations, wherever they are. It remains in the interest of the Taliban that ISIS-K does not metastasize. “No one trusts the Taliban, we are just counting on their self-interest that we leave when we said and that we get as many people out as we can,” he said. He does not see any collusion between the Taliban and ISIS.
He stated that there is still the potential threat of additional attacks.
UPDATE 4:00 PM EDT
The Pentagon reported devastating news in their afternoon press briefing Thursday. At least 12 U.S. servicemen were killed in the suicide bomb attacks that occurred outside the Kabul airport. A number of other service members were wounded and the toll continues to grow. At least 60 Afghans were killed and another 143 were wounded, Afghan officials report.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the Pentagon will continue to evacuate people from Afghanistan until the U.S. leaves next Tuesday, but during the final days, it will need to prioritize getting U.S. troops and military equipment out of the country.
The CENTCOM Commander, General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., said that the evacuation procedure was designed to work under pressure and that is what they are doing. Americans are still moving out and State Department is still in contact with those not at the airport to help get them safely out of the country.
General McKenzie said they didn’t know if the suicide bomber was male or female. The scene of the bombing he said extended 100 to 150 meters. People are crowded together outside the airport gates, half a mile deep in some places. It was a significant-sized blast. How much the evacuations will be affected is unclear.
UPDATE 3:00 PM EDT
Pentagon officials hold a briefing Thursday afternoon following the explosions near Kabul’s airport.
Officials confirm that 12 U.S. service men and women were killed in the explosions.
UPDATE 1:30 PM EDT
Early reports indicate that local hospital emergency rooms are already overwhelmed with injured people. Triage is rooms are at capacity and there is limited availability of doctors and medical supplies.
U.S. military personnel have set up a trauma unit within the ground of the airport.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby released the following statement, “We can confirm that a number of U.S. service members were killed in today’s complex attack at Kabul airport. A number of others are being treated for wounds. We also know that a number of Afghans fell victim to this heinous attack.”
UPDATE 10:00 AM EDT
Someone, possibly an ISIS-K terrorist, detonated a suicide vest in the crowd of thousands outside the Abbey gate of the international airport at Kabul where evacuations are taking place. A gunfight erupted, and all airport gates processing evacuees closed.
Even as the Pentagon was describing it as a “complex attack,” another explosion occurred yards away in front of a neighboring hotel where many Americans had gone for security, heeding a warning by the State Department last night of a substantial threat.
We can confirm that the explosion at the Abbey Gate was the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of US & civilian casualties. We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate. We will continue to update. — John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021
The extent of casualties is unknown, but deaths have been reported to various news agencies by people on the ground in Kabul. The Pentagon reports at least 4 U.S. military personnel have been wounded in the bombing, but the extent of their injuries is not yet clear. One Afghan witness to the bombing said a baby girl died in his arms. He had transportation available and was driving other wounded people to a local hospital.
Flights are still taking off from the Kabul airport as crowds of thousands are still surging toward the airport gates in an effort to flee the country.
This is a developing story and is subject to change. We will continue to update page as new information becomes available. Please return to this page for the most current news and prayer items.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For American troops injured in the explosions at the Kabul airport and for the protection of other American military personnel working on the evacuations.
- For the tens of thousands of people endeavoring to get out of Afghanistan as the August 31 deadline nears.
- For the numbers of Americans in the country unable to get to Kabul or other rescue and who could be left behind into a probable dire future.
- For wisdom for the president and his military advisors as the situation unfolds in Kabul.
Sources: CNN, Fox News, NBC, MSN, Washington Post, The Hill, CBS
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