At least three U.S. Marines have been wounded in a suicide bombing Thursday outside a gate at Kabul’s international airport.
One of the Marines is in serious condition, according to Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin.
The attack touched off a firefight at Abbey Gate, where an estimated 5,000 Afghans and possibly some Americans were trying to get to the airport to be evacuated, according to a U.S. official.
There was a second bombing nearby, a U.S. official said, outside the Baron Hotel near Kabul airport, where Americans were gathering for rescue operations.
Last week, 169 Americans were rescued from that site by helicopters.
Intel sources believe the attacks were carried out by an ISIS cell.
State Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed the two attacks.
“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,” he said via Twitter.
“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.”
More than 30 victims of the bombings have arrived at the Kabul Surgical Center, according to the Afghan news channel Tolo News. Six others were dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, an estimated 1,500 Americans remain in Afghanistan, aside from U.S. troops, according to the State Department. President Biden said this week he will stick to the Aug. 31 deadline for removing U.S. troops. About 600 of the 6,000 troops in the country have left.
The State Department had been aware of an increasing terrorist threat, issuing a warning Wednesday to the Americans outside the airport gates to “leave immediately.”
#BREAKING: Video purports to show second bombing near the Baron hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan.
— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) August 26, 2021
President Biden is currently in the Situation Room along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a White House official told CNN.
The president’s meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, which was scheduled for 11:30 a.m., has been delayed.
Developing story … more to come.
WARNING: Graphic content.
Video coming out of Afghanistan shows the immediate aftermath of the suicide bombing explosion outside of Kabul airport.
pic.twitter.com/VXXkaBN6RD— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) August 26, 2021
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