At least 12 U.S. troops and dozens of Afghan citizens were killed in two suicide bombings outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Thursday, U.S. and Afghan officials said.
What we know: The "complex attack" that struck in the sunset of the U.S.' longest war involved an explosion at the Abbey Gate entrance to the airport, a second explosion near the Baron Hotel, and gunfire from ISIS fighters, Gen. Kenneth McKenzie told reporters. President Biden blamed ISIS-K for the "vicious attack," and vowed to retaliate.
- Fifteen U.S. troops were injured. Those killed included 11 U.S. Marines and a Navy medic.
- AP, citing an Afghan official, reported that at least 60 Afghans were killed. Some of the more than 140 injured Afghans were being treated inside the airport, while many others were transported to hospitals in Kabul, per AP.
- "The threat from ISIS is extremely real ... we believe it is their desire to continue those attacks and we believe those attacks will continue," McKenzie said, adding that preventing attacks will require cooperation with the Taliban, which is controlling access to the area around the airport.
Biden, speaking later on Thursday, said he has directed the Pentagon to develop plans to strike the "assets, leadership and facilities" of ISIS-K, an ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan.
- "We will not forgive, we will not forget, we will hunt you down and make you pay," he said.
- "We will respond at force and precision," he added. "We will be deterred by terrorists."
Biden called the American service members who lost their lives heroes. ...