The Tragic Toll: Chaos At Afghanistan Airport Leaves Many Dead

On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers struck a packed crowd outside Kabul airport in Afghanistan, killing 13 American service members and almost 170 Afghan civilians. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

The death toll of the Kabul airport attack rose to 169 for Afghans and 13 for U.S. service members

On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers struck a packed crowd outside Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan, killing 13 American service members and 169 Afghan civilians. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which was one of the deadliest days for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in a decade.

The attack took place at the Abbey Gate, one of the airport's main entries, and the Baron Hotel, located a few hundred feet away. The Abbey Gate was a gathering point for Afghans with the necessary documents to leave the country. The U.S. troops killed in the attack included 11 Marines and one Navy medic. The identities of the 13th fatality and the 12th member of the Navy are not yet known.

The U.S. military casualties were the first American deaths from hostile action since February 2020, when two Army special forces soldiers were killed in a green-on-blue insider attack by an Afghan soldier. The attack also injured 18 U.S. service members.

The death toll for Afghan civilians was initially reported as 79, with more than 120 wounded. However, the number of Afghan deaths rose to 169, including an agency founder and impoverished Afghans who aspired for a better life.

The attack occurred amid the U.S. evacuation of its citizens and vulnerable Afghans from the country following the Taliban's takeover. The U.S. had about 5,800 troops at the Kabul airport, working to evacuate thousands of people. Despite the attack, the U.S. continued its evacuation efforts, with about 4,200 people evacuated from Kabul in a 12-hour period following the bombing.

The Taliban condemned the attack and denied any involvement, stating that it occurred in an area under the control of U.S. forces. However, they set up a makeshift barrier 1,600 feet from the airport after the attack, holding the crowds back from the U.S. troops at the airport gates.

The U.S. President, Joe Biden, condemned the attack and vowed to retaliate against the Islamic State, stating, "We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay." He also reaffirmed the U.S.'s commitment to completing the evacuation, stating, "We will rescue the Americans, we will get our Afghan allies out, and our mission will go on."

The attack was carried out by a single suicide bomber at the airport gate, claimed by ISIS-K

On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the evacuation of the country. The attack was carried out by a single suicide bomber at the airport gate, claimed by ISIS-K, killing at least 183 people, including 170 Afghan civilians and 13 members of the United States military. This marked the first American military casualties in the War in Afghanistan since February 2020.

ISIS-K, the Afghanistan and Pakistan arm of the Islamic State, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group has long been a rival of the Taliban in Afghanistan and had planned attacks on American personnel in the country. ISIS-K is an enemy of both the Taliban and the West, and the attack underscored the realpolitik facing Western powers in Afghanistan. The Taliban, who controlled the area around the airport, had an interest in maintaining security and preventing further attacks.

The suicide bomber was later identified as Abdul Rahman al-Logari by ISIS-K. It was reported that the bomber had been released from the Parwan prison at Bagram air base just days before the attack when the Taliban took control of the area. This highlighted the challenges faced by the US during the chaotic final days of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the reliance on the Taliban to secure the airport perimeter.

The attack had a significant impact, leading to a US airstrike against suspected ISIS-K members and a drone strike targeting a vehicle believed to be carrying ISIS-K members. Unfortunately, the drone strike resulted in the deaths of ten Afghan civilians, including seven children. The US acknowledged the possibility of responsibility for some deaths and conducted investigations into the incident.

The Kabul airport attack was a tragic event that caused widespread condemnation and highlighted the complex dynamics between ISIS-K, the Taliban, and Western forces in Afghanistan.

The U.S. warned of more attacks and continued the mammoth evacuation from Afghanistan

The U.S. continued with the mammoth evacuation from Afghanistan on Friday, a day after the suicide attack at the Kabul airport that killed 13 U.S. service members and scores of Afghans. The U.S. issued a new security alert for four of the airport gates early Saturday morning. The Pentagon also said that there was a bombing only at the airport gate, not at two locations, as initially stated.

The U.S. warned of more attacks ahead of President Joe Biden's fast-approaching deadline to withdraw American forces from Afghanistan by Tuesday. The next few days were expected to be the most dangerous. The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, stated that the "next few days of this operation will be the most dangerous period yet."

The reported death toll from Thursday's attack varied, with some reports saying at least 95 Afghans died, along with 13 American troops. The U.S. said it was the deadliest day for American forces in Afghanistan since 2011. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of ISIS-K, its offshoot in Afghanistan, which opposes both the Taliban and the West.

Despite the bombing, crowds thronging the airport in hope of escaping Taliban rule appeared as large as ever. Afghans, American citizens, and other foreigners were acutely aware of the closing window to board a flight before the airlift ends and Western troops withdraw. The U.S. military had to stand close to would-be evacuees to ensure they were not carrying any weapons that could cause loss of life aboard a plane.

In an emotional speech, President Biden vowed to complete the evacuation and hunt down the Islamic State militants responsible for the carnage. He said:

> We will rescue the Americans, we will get our Afghan allies out, and our mission will go on.

The U.S. said more than 100,000 people had been safely evacuated from Kabul, but thousands more were struggling to leave in one of history's largest airlifts. The White House said that 8,500 evacuees had been flown out aboard U.S. military aircraft in the previous 24 hours, along with about 4,000 people on coalition flights.

Outside the airport, Afghans acknowledged that going to the airport was risky but said they had few choices. Many others would try to escape over land borders. The U.N. refugee agency stated that a half-million people or more could flee in a worst-case scenario in the coming months.

Chances to help those hoping to join the evacuation were fading fast as U.S. allies and other nations ended their airlifts to give the U.S. time to wrap up its operations and withdraw its troops. The Taliban had said they would allow Afghans to leave via commercial flights after the U.S. withdrawal, but it remained unclear which airlines would return to an airport controlled by the militants.

President Biden vowed retribution and said, We will hunt you down and make you pay

On the 26th of August 2021, President Joe Biden delivered a speech from the East Room of the White House, addressing the recent Kabul airport attack that killed 13 U.S. service members and wounded many others. In his speech, Biden vowed to retaliate against those responsible for the attack, stating:

> "To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay."

Biden further emphasized that he had instructed his commanders to develop plans to strike back at the perpetrators, specifically targeting ISIS-K assets, leadership, and facilities. He assured the public that the U.S. military would "get them, wherever they are," and that the U.S. would respond with force and precision at a time and place of their choosing.

The president also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to completing the evacuation of Americans and vulnerable Afghans, stating:

> "We will not be deterred by terrorists. We will not let them stop our mission. We will continue the evacuation."

Biden's speech came amid heightened security concerns and fears of additional attacks as the U.S. raced to meet the fast-approaching deadline for withdrawing American forces from Afghanistan. The Kabul airport attack, claimed by the Islamic State's Afghanistan affiliate, ISIS-K, resulted in the deaths of over a hundred Afghans and 13 U.S. service members, making it the deadliest day for American forces in Afghanistan since 2011.

The Taliban set up a makeshift barrier to hold crowds back from U.S. troops at the airport gates

In the aftermath of the Kabul airport attack, the Taliban set up a makeshift barrier 500 meters (1,600 feet) from the airport, holding the crowds back from the U.S. troops at the airport gates. The barrier was made up of a pickup truck full of Taliban fighters and three captured Humvees. The Taliban's checkpoint was set up a day after the suicide attack at the airport, which killed 13 U.S. service members and 169 Afghans. The attack was carried out by an Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, making use of an explosive vest and gunfire.

The U.S. military had to stand close to evacuees to ensure they were not carrying weapons that could endanger flights. The Taliban's checkpoint was set up to reduce the risk of attacks on U.S. troops, with General McKenzie of the U.S. Central Command stating that they would adjust security outside the airport gates and ask the Taliban to change the location of their checkpoints if needed. The Taliban's cooperation was essential to maintaining security during the evacuation process.

The Taliban's actions after the attack demonstrated their commitment to maintaining order and preventing further loss of life. By setting up the barrier, they created a buffer zone between the crowds and U.S. troops, reducing the risk of another attack. This measure allowed the evacuation process to continue while providing additional security for U.S. forces on the ground.

The Taliban's cooperation with U.S. forces during the evacuation process was crucial, and their efforts to hold back the crowds and maintain order cannot be overlooked. Their actions at the airport, including setting up the makeshift barrier, played a significant role in ensuring the safety of those evacuating and the U.S. troops facilitating the process.

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