A pair of explosions outside Hamid Karzai International Airport on Thursday have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 60 people, with another 140 wounded. Among the casualties are U.S. service members who were located at the Abbey Gate, one of several entrances into the military section of the airport. Reports have varied from four to 13 service members killed, though the Pentagon has yet to provide an exact number. The bombings, which were large enough to be seen on security cameras located miles away and felt throughout much of the city, were believed to be carried out by suicide bombers connected to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K).
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby is holding a press conference at 2 PM ET to discuss the explosions, the casualties, and what this means for the ongoing effort to evacuate U.S. citizens and allies from Afghanistan. Live coverage will be provided as updates to this article.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:02:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie, head of Central Command, is taking the helm for this press conference. Says that the explosions were followed by a number of ISIS terrorist opening fire on the crowd.
McKenzie confirms death of 12 U.S. service members. Says that some Afghan wounded are being cared for by U.S. forces inside airport.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:03:24 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie says evacuation will continue. More than 5,000 people right now “on the ramp” ready to fly out. Over 104,000 evacuated so far.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:05:16 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie expresses his pride in U.S. forces on the ground, gratitude to the allies, host nations taking in evacuees, and commitment to continuing the evacuation. “Please know that we continue to execute our number 1 mission, which is to get as many American citizens and others out of Afghanistan.”
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:06:30 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie emphasizes that screening people coming into the airport is “close up work,” work where those involved have to put their “hands on the clothes” of those being screened. “All American should be proud” of the service members facing this danger.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:09:05 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Asked if the ISIS threat cuts the evacuation short, and whether the attack will get a military response. Gen. McKenzie says he believes ISIS-K will attempt more attacks, emphasizes need to coordinate with Taliban, says that U.S. is continuing to bring people into the airfield, even in the hours after the attack. Calls on American citizens in Afghanistan to come to airfield.
McKenzie: “Yes, if we can find who was behind this, we will go after them.” Says U.S. continues to hold that it can go after ISIS within Afghanistan.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:11:00 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
McKenzie provides some details on the explosion. Says it occurred at a gate where Marines were engaged of physical screening of people entering the airfield. Says Taliban is supposed to perform searches before people get to U.S. forces, says the circumstances behind this event will be getting further investigation. Emphasizes that these Marines have already searched 104,000 people.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:12:36 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie says bomber did not get inside the gate, but says other details are still being investigated. Emphasizes that focus is on keeping people coming in why preventing further attacks. Says terrorist pattern is for “multiple attacks.”
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:14:44 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie says he doesn’t believe additional forces need to be sent to Afghanistan. Says there are “very, very real” threats to the U.S. forces including not just suicide bombers, but possible rocket attacks or vehicle-mounted bombs. Says they are sharing information with Taliban and that the U.S. believes that some potential attacks have been thwarted by Taliban. “We don’t tell them everything, but we give them enough to prevent these attacks.”
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:16:50 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:20:16 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie asked if the Taliban “let this happen.” Says its not a matter of trusting Taliban, because they have a reason for wanting the U.S. out of the country, which makes them “useful to work with.” Says that any time you build a non-combatant evacuation plan “you expect to be attacked.” Says mission will continue even if attacks continue.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:21:20 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Asked when the U.S. will stop taking evacuees and start withdrawing forces, Gen. McKenzie says that it won’t be a clear cut off, but that evacuees will still be coming out even as the military forces are withdrawn.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:24:04 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie says he’s aware of no other American casualties in the two explosions.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:25:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie emphasizes that the primary concern is protecting the aircraft, because they represent large targets to terrorists. But insists that evacuations are continuing.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:27:37 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Unclear how ISIS bomber managed to get past outside checkpoints to reach U.S. forces. Not only are some of those checkpoints manned by Taliban, some are operated by U.S.-allied Afghan forces. Not know if the bomber was allowed through intentionally, was overlooked, or somehow bypassed the checkpoints.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:29:12 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
And that’s the end. The big news coming out of this conference:
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:35:21 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
White House Press Sec. Jen Psaki is about to convene a briefing.
YouTube Video
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:41:19 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
President Biden will reportedly address the nation this evening, though the timing is not yet clear.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:41:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
And just like that … President Biden will speak to the nation at 5 PM ET.
YouTube Video
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 6:57:44 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has issued a statement expressing his condolences to those lost, but as with earlier statements, it provides few details of events at the airport.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby is holding a press conference at 2 PM ET to discuss the explosions, the casualties, and what this means for the ongoing effort to evacuate U.S. citizens and allies from Afghanistan. Live coverage will be provided as updates to this article.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:02:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie, head of Central Command, is taking the helm for this press conference. Says that the explosions were followed by a number of ISIS terrorist opening fire on the crowd.
McKenzie confirms death of 12 U.S. service members. Says that some Afghan wounded are being cared for by U.S. forces inside airport.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:03:24 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie says evacuation will continue. More than 5,000 people right now “on the ramp” ready to fly out. Over 104,000 evacuated so far.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:05:16 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie expresses his pride in U.S. forces on the ground, gratitude to the allies, host nations taking in evacuees, and commitment to continuing the evacuation. “Please know that we continue to execute our number 1 mission, which is to get as many American citizens and others out of Afghanistan.”
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:06:30 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie emphasizes that screening people coming into the airport is “close up work,” work where those involved have to put their “hands on the clothes” of those being screened. “All American should be proud” of the service members facing this danger.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:09:05 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Asked if the ISIS threat cuts the evacuation short, and whether the attack will get a military response. Gen. McKenzie says he believes ISIS-K will attempt more attacks, emphasizes need to coordinate with Taliban, says that U.S. is continuing to bring people into the airfield, even in the hours after the attack. Calls on American citizens in Afghanistan to come to airfield.
McKenzie: “Yes, if we can find who was behind this, we will go after them.” Says U.S. continues to hold that it can go after ISIS within Afghanistan.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:11:00 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
McKenzie provides some details on the explosion. Says it occurred at a gate where Marines were engaged of physical screening of people entering the airfield. Says Taliban is supposed to perform searches before people get to U.S. forces, says the circumstances behind this event will be getting further investigation. Emphasizes that these Marines have already searched 104,000 people.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:12:36 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie says bomber did not get inside the gate, but says other details are still being investigated. Emphasizes that focus is on keeping people coming in why preventing further attacks. Says terrorist pattern is for “multiple attacks.”
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:14:44 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie says he doesn’t believe additional forces need to be sent to Afghanistan. Says there are “very, very real” threats to the U.S. forces including not just suicide bombers, but possible rocket attacks or vehicle-mounted bombs. Says they are sharing information with Taliban and that the U.S. believes that some potential attacks have been thwarted by Taliban. “We don’t tell them everything, but we give them enough to prevent these attacks.”
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:16:50 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:20:16 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie asked if the Taliban “let this happen.” Says its not a matter of trusting Taliban, because they have a reason for wanting the U.S. out of the country, which makes them “useful to work with.” Says that any time you build a non-combatant evacuation plan “you expect to be attacked.” Says mission will continue even if attacks continue.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:21:20 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Asked when the U.S. will stop taking evacuees and start withdrawing forces, Gen. McKenzie says that it won’t be a clear cut off, but that evacuees will still be coming out even as the military forces are withdrawn.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:24:04 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie says he’s aware of no other American casualties in the two explosions.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:25:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Gen. McKenzie emphasizes that the primary concern is protecting the aircraft, because they represent large targets to terrorists. But insists that evacuations are continuing.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:27:37 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Unclear how ISIS bomber managed to get past outside checkpoints to reach U.S. forces. Not only are some of those checkpoints manned by Taliban, some are operated by U.S.-allied Afghan forces. Not know if the bomber was allowed through intentionally, was overlooked, or somehow bypassed the checkpoints.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:29:12 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
And that’s the end. The big news coming out of this conference:
- Confirmation that 12 service members have died.
- Statement that evacuation is continuing despite bombings.
- Emphasis on protecting evacuees and planes, but assurance that evacuation will go on even if there are additional attacks.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:35:21 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
White House Press Sec. Jen Psaki is about to convene a briefing.
YouTube Video
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:41:19 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
President Biden will reportedly address the nation this evening, though the timing is not yet clear.
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 7:41:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
And just like that … President Biden will speak to the nation at 5 PM ET.
YouTube Video
Thursday, Aug 26, 2021 · 6:57:44 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has issued a statement expressing his condolences to those lost, but as with earlier statements, it provides few details of events at the airport.