Michael Cardinal, FISM News
Update – August 27: At least 95 Afghan citizens were also killed in the two suicide bombings. The Islamic terrorist organization ISIS-K took responsibility for the deadly strikes that resulted in the first military combat deaths in Afghanistan since February of last year. Evacuation flights resumed today, as there are reportedly still approximately 1,000 US citizens and tens of thousands of Afghan allies who still need to be evacuated. Military officials have reported similar attacks are highly probable in the upcoming days and that flights leaving the country are continually under artillery fire.
Update – August 26: The Pentagon has confirmed that multiple US military members died in the attack on the Kabul airport this morning. US officials have now reported that at least 13 US service members, primarily Marines, have been killed and 18 more were injured. There have been two confirmed suicide bombers and also a firefight involving ISIS members.
Statement on this morning's attack at #HKIA: pic.twitter.com/Qb1DIAJQJU
— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021
At least two blasts have occurred outside of the Kabul airport on Thursday, giving credibility to US officials prompting citizens to leave the airport yesterday.
Many of the details of the event are still unknown but a US official has said that a suicide bomber detonated a bomb outside one of the gates at the Kabul airport. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said he was aware of the explosion, but he was uncertain how many casualties there were.
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
Taliban officials have reported that at least 13 people were killed in the attack and that children were among those dead. US officials have also confirmed that at least three US Marines were among those injured in the explosion as well.
First images from #Kabul airport attack. pic.twitter.com/nTy13vd1p9
— Naveed Ul Haq || نوید الحق (@journonaveed) August 26, 2021
There had been growing concern over the last several days that the airport would be targeted by terror threats due to the large gathering of internationals. ISIS-K, an Afghanistan faction of ISIS, had been making inroads in the country since the Taliban takeover and international agencies had warned that they were developing plans for terroristic attacks.
ISIS-K has been recognized as a unique terrorist organization and is a more extreme Islamic group that the Taliban broke off from and is now at odds with the organization. Katherine Zimmerman, a foreign and defense policy expert, told Fox News that while the Taliban is a risk to civilians, the greatest risk to those trying to flee the country is the ISIS-K insurgent group.
Zimmerman explained the difference between the two, saying, “[ISIS-K] sees anybody who does not accept its vision as an enemy – that includes the Taliban, that includes the Shia, that includes the west.”
On Wednesday, US officials told Americans to leave the airport due to an imminent terror threat. Britain, New Zealand, and Australia also issued similar warnings to their citizens. The warnings were reportedly due to a “specific” and “credible” threat from an ISIS faction in Afghanistan.
There had been growing concern over the last several days that the airport would be targeted by terror threats due to the large gathering of internationals. Those at the airport were told to find immediate shelter and the US embassy told those who were not at the airport to stay away. The State Department announced yesterday that there are still approximately 1,500 Americans in need of evacuation. There are also still tens of thousands of Afghani allies who need to be evacuated as well prior to the August 31 deadline.
Republican lawmakers have already come out in response to this and have called on President Biden to take responsibility and do more to protect US citizens and Afghan allies who are stranded in the country and are now under attack. Former Navy Seal and current US Congressman, Dan Crenshaw, urged the President to “go on the offensive” until all those who need to leave the country are out:
Mr. President, fix the mess you created. Stop running from it. We are still at war. You didn’t “end the war,” you just gave the enemy new advantage. Go on offense, establish superiority, and don’t leave until all our citizens and allies are safe. https://t.co/htKFMQ0Y0k
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) August 26, 2021
FISM President and CEO Dan Celia said that this event has exposed the President’s lack of leadership:
This president has put our troops in harm’s way greater than any other president because he said to them ‘You will stay there and be in harms way’ at the very time when he told them to stand down… Now any of our soldiers and citizens that are getting wounded is on the back of our president…Maybe this is the straw that will make people come to the realization that America is in trouble.”
Celia went on to say that it is possible that God may use this tragedy to draw people to Himself and seek out a true hope that only He can provide. As believers let this be a reminder for us to pray for those suffering, for those who have experienced loss, for those in positions of authority, and most of all for revival.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. – John 14:27
This story is developing and will continue to be updated.