At Least 60 Afghans, 12 U.S. Marines Killed In Kabul Blasts

Islamic State struck the crowded gates of Kabul airport in a suicide bomb attack on Thursday, August 26, 2021, killing at least 60 Afghans and 12 US troops, and throwing into mayhem the airlift of tens of thousands of Afghans desperate to flee.

Photo Insert: Paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division patrol the areas near Kabul Airport to help facilitate the safe evacuation of U.S. citizens.

Kabul health officials were quoted as saying 60 civilians were killed. Video shot by Afghan journalists showed dozens of bodies strewn around a canal on the edge of the airport. At least two blasts rocked the area, witnesses said.

Initially, Wall Street Journal reported four US Marines were killed. In reaction to the attacks, the New York Times reported that US President Joe Biden vowed to hunt down the perpetrators.

It was believed to be the most US troops killed in Afghanistan in a single incident since 30 US personnel died when a helicopter was shot down in August 2011. At least 52 others were injured, the spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Doha, Suhail Shaheen, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

The non-governmental organization Emergency spoke earlier of at least six dead and more than 60 injured. The US said 15 Marines were wounded.

The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, called Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq news outlet. It claimed that some 160 were killed or wounded in a suicide attack, and said the victims were US forces and others collaborating with them.

They also posted a picture of one suicide bomber. The Taliban strongly condemned this atrocious incident and will take every step to bring the culprits to justice, Shaheen told dpa.

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