Carnage at Kabul airport: 13 American soldiers, more than 100 dead
A horrific terror attack in Kabul has killed more than 100 people with the death toll expected to rise. Warning: Distressing images
WARNING: Graphic images
The death toll from a terrorist attack at Kabul has reportedly risen over 100 with 13 Americans killed.
As of Friday evening, Australian time, Al Jazeera reported there were at least 110 fatalities after the attack on Thursday.
The attack was claimed by an offshoot of the armed group ISIL (ISIS) in Afghanistan, the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-K), which said its suicide bombers singled out “translators and collaborators with the American army”.
Heartbreaking footage has emerged showing crowds of people crammed outside Kabul airport just hours before an explosion killed dozens of people including at least 13 members of the US military.
The scene of the suicide bombing in Afghanistan has been described as a “massacre” with bodies of children, women and men littering the ground.
Mohammad Hamid Paimani, a journalist based in Kabul, recorded footage at Baron Hotel in Kabul where hundreds of people, including women and children, gathered before the site was bombed.
The crowds gathered despite a flurry of foreign government warnings — made just hours before the explosions — that a major terror attack was imminent.
It shows the desperation of people to leave Afghanistan as the August 31 deadline approaches for US and other troops to evacuate, after the Taliban seized control of the country.
“Half of Kabul’s population is here aiming to force themselves into planes to travel to US,” Mr Paimani tweeted.
The hotel was one of two sites targeted in the attack, which has been claimed by Islamic State, with terrorists also targeting Abbey Gate at Kabul airport.
Graphic footage of the aftermath of the explosion at Abbey Gate was also shared.
“Explicit footage of aftermath of blasts at #Kabul airport shows what can only be described as a massacre,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Afghanistan reporter Frud Bezhan tweeted referring to graphic video being shared on social media.
“Bodies of scores of children, women, and men — some without limbs — litter the ground, some on top of each other.”
Bezhan described the attack as a “tragedy”.
“One that could and should have been avoided.”
On Thursday (local time) the US Defense Department confirmed the death toll among American troops had risen by one to 13, and the number of injured was 18.
“A thirteenth US service member has died from his wounds suffered as a result of the attack on Abbey Gate,” Central Command spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement.
The twin explosions that erupted on Thursday (local time) outside Hamid Karzai International Airport also killed dozens of civilians who had gathered in the hopes of being evacuated along with the foreigners.
The airport is the only part of Afghanistan still under foreign control following the Taliban’s return to power on August 15.
The outer perimeter of access to the airport is controlled by the Taliban, and the airport gates are managed under heavy security by the Marines and other troops.
There are still around 5000 US troops at the airport and they are susceptible to further attacks, including from rockets or a suicide vehicle.
US President Joe Biden vowed to “hunt down” those responsible for the devastating explosions.
Former president Donald Trump said the attack was “the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to our country”.
“We look like fools all over the world,” Mr Trump told Fox News program Hannity.
“We’re weak, we’re pathetic.
“We’re being led by people that have no idea what they’re doing.”
Mr Trump said the government had “botched the plan” and the military should have been the last to leave but that Joe Biden took them out first, which was the “dumbest move anybody’s ever made”.
America has blamed the attack on a group known as ISIS-K, an affiliate of Islamic State, which took the lives of American service members standing guard at the airport and wounded others seriously.
“To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone wishes America harm, know this — we will not forgive, we will not forget, we will hunt you down and make you pay,” Mr Biden said in a televised address.
Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton hasn’t ruled out sending troops back to Kabul but told reporters that troops had been safely flown out of the country. Evacuations have now been suspended.
WARNING: Graphic video
Dozens killed and injured
NGO Emergency said the hospital it operates in Kabul had been overwhelmed by a “massive influx” of more than 60 casualties, 16 of whom were pronounced dead on arrival.
The injured “could not speak, many were terrified, their eyes totally lost in emptiness, their gaze blank”, the hospital’s medical co-ordinator Alberto Zanin said in a post on the group’s Twitter account.
Earlier a Taliban official said there were children among the dead — and one man described the harrowing moment a “baby girl” died in his arms — from a pair of suicide attacks at two different locations.
“Our initial information shows between 13 and 20 killed and 52 wounded,” the militant group’s chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, condemning the attack.
Official numbers are certain to increase.
Multiple media outlets, citing a senior Afghan health official, report “more than 60 Afghan civilians” have been killed and 150 have been injured.
Kabul’s main emergency hospital said six bodies had been brought in, and they had also treated more than 30 people for injuries.
A second city hospital said it had tended to another 60 patients.
Donald Trump says attack is ‘most embarrassing thing’ to happen to US
Former president Donald Trump says the attack was “the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to our country”.
He said the government had “botched the plan” and the military should have been the last to leave but that Joe Biden took them out first, which was the “dumbest move anybody’s ever made”.
“I hear (US Central Command commander) General (Kenneth) McKenzie say that the Taliban is going to protect us, the Taliban is the enemy,” he said.
“Our country has never seen stupidity like this.
“We could have left with safety, we could have taken everybody with us that we wanted, all of the great American citizens and people that helped us whether it’s interpreters or others.
“We wouldn’t have had a rush because the Taliban was not going anywhere, we had them totally under control.
“Every time we saw movement we would hit with a F/A-18 (combat jet) and the movement stopped.”
The Trump administration committed the United States to a full withdrawal from Afghanistan in a February 2020 deal with the Taliban.
But Mr Trump said he would have kept Bagram Airfield open — formerly the largest US military base in Afghanistan — as it was near China and Iran.
The airfield fell to the Taliban on August 15 after Afghanistan government forces surrendered, leaving people to evacuate from Kabul airport instead.
President Biden has defended the withdrawal and insisted it was not a mistake to rely on the Taliban for help securing Kabul airport.
Asked by a reporter if he bore any responsibility for the death of the US service members killed Thursday, Mr Biden said: “I bear responsibility fundamentally for all that’s happened of late”.
Mr Biden has said the evacuation effort would proceed and end on schedule at the end of the month.
Several Republican politicians said Mr Biden should resign or be impeached.
“Joe Biden is responsible,” said Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.
“It is now clear beyond all doubt that he has neither the capacity nor the will to lead. He must resign.”
Representative Elise Stefanik, the third-ranking Republican in the House, tweeted that “Joe Biden has blood on his hands.”
“The buck stops with the President of the United States,” Ms Stefanik said.
“This horrific national security and humanitarian disaster is solely the result of Joe Biden’s weak and incompetent leadership. He is unfit to be Commander-in-Chief.”
However, Illinois Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, a former military officer, said both Republicans and Democrats were responsible for the current situation.
Mr Kinzinger told CNN that Mr Trump had set up a deal “that would make Neville Chamberlain blush” but that Mr Biden had chosen not to reverse the deal and “owns this decision as much as Donald Trump, and the execution”.
First American casualties since February
Earlier General Kenneth McKenzie, head of US Central Command, said 11 US Marines and one navy medic had been killed. Fifteen other service members were injured.
They are the first US casualties in Afghanistan since February of last year. And this is one of the deadliest days for US forces in the entirety of the 20-year war.
Gen McKenzie said he expected more attacks, but they would “not deter” the US from completing its evacuation mission.
He blamed the violence on ISIS-K saying one of the bombers appeared to have targeted the Abbey Gate, a checkpoint where US forces were physically checking people before allowing them into the airport.
The other explosion happened at the Baron Hotel, about 200 metres away from the Abbey Gate, which western forces had been using as a staging point for some evacuations.
The US believes the attack at the gate was a suicide bombing. It is still investigating the one at the hotel.
“The plan is designed to operate while under stress, and under attack, and we will continue to do that,” he said.
“We will co-ordinate very carefully to make sure that it’s safe for American citizens to come to the airfield. If it’s not, we’ll tell them to hold.
“Our mission remains. We’re still committed to flying people out, until we terminate operations at some point towards the end of the month.”
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin released a statement expressing his “deepest condolences” to the loved ones of the murdered troops.
“Terrorists took their lives at the very moment these troops were trying to save the lives of others,” General Austin said.
The attacks came hours after the US and allied officials said they had intelligence about a “very specific threat stream” from the ISIS affiliate ISIS-K in Afghanistan, which planned to target crowds outside the airfield.
PM condemns ‘evil’ attack
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned the “evil, the calculated and inhuman attacks” at Kabul.
He said “our hearts sank when we heard this news” even though the attacks were not unexpected.
He said Australian personnel stood at the Abbey Gate at Kabul, where 13 US military personnel were reportedly killed, just hours before.
“Over the course of these operations, these brave young Americans stood at that gate to protect life, to save life, but lost their own in providing a pathway to freedom for others,” he said.
“I have conveyed Australia’s and my own personal deep sadness for the loss of those brave American souls, to the President of the United States, by letter this morning.”
He said Australia had successfully evacuated around 4100 people from Afghanistan over nine days.
All evacuation flights have now ceased.
Asked whether Afghans who had been granted temporary visas would still be able to be evacuated, Mr Morrison said: “To be honest, the opportunities for that will be very restricted”.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne urged any Australians still in the country to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. “Do not travel to the airport,” she said.
All Australian troops safe
Defence Minister Peter Dutton said it was an “incredibly volatile situation” and confirmed all Australian troops had been flown out of the country.
“I am so grateful that they are now safe,” Mr Dutton told reporters earlier. “The efforts, the bravery of these men and women has been now demonstrated.”
However, it’s unclear yet whether any other Australians have been injured or killed in the attack.
Mr Dutton said his advice to anyone who had a contact, family member or friend in Afghanistan was to “make sure they do not go to the airport, that they do not gather in public places, that they take every safety precaution and that they note the very clear intelligence that we are very concerned about”.
When asked whether the government would consider sending troops back to Kabul airport, Mr Dutton said it was important to understand that groups like ISIS-K and IS-KP were more radical than the Taliban.
“They are enemies of the Taliban because they don’t believe the Taliban is hard core enough — just to put it into perspective as to how crazy they are,” he said.
“The American President has sent a clear message this morning that their strike on these American troops will not be tolerated and there will be retaliation by the Americans and we will see what the Americans have to say in coming days.
“The focus at the moment is on making sure that the Americans, the Brits and those that remain in Kabul can be uplifted safely.”
Mr Dutton said it wouldn’t have been possible for Australian forces to move hundreds of people through the Baron Hotel without the thousands of troops from the United States and United Kingdom that had secured and still secure the Kabul airport.
“Our soldiers have been working hand in glove alongside those British and American soldiers and they, like all of us, will be devastated with the loss of these American soldiers,” he said.
“Without their efforts we wouldn’t have got anybody out of Kabul over the last week and I really grieve for them and I know that the Australian Defence Force, in particular, will have a very heavy heart with the loss of this life.”
International leaders condemn the attacks
US President Joe Biden spent time this morning in the White House Situation Room getting briefed on the attacks.
“The President met with his national security team this morning, including Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, Chairman Milley, and commanders on the ground. He will continue to be briefed on updates on the evolving situation throughout the day,” the White House said in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the “coming hours will remain extremely dangerous in Kabul and at the airport,” following the two explosions.
Speaking at a joint news conference with the Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, Mr Macron said the situation around Kabul airport had seriously deteriorated.
“We are confronted with a very tense situation and we are co-ordinating with our American allies,” Mr Macron said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the attack and said those responsible were “despicable”.
“We extend our condolences both to the United States of America and the people of Afghanistan,” he said.
Mr Johnson said the British would continue with their evacuation, which is said to be near its end. The UK Ministry of Defence said there had been “no reported UK military or UK government casualties”.
“UK forces are working closely with our partners to provide security and medical assistance,” it added.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the “heinous” attack.
“We don’t know all the details yet but the terrorists targeted people waiting at the airport gates who were hoping to leave,” Ms Merkel said.
“They wanted security and freedom and that is why it is an absolutely heinous attack in a very, very tense situation.”
The United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres condemned the “terrorist attack which killed and injured a number of civilians”.
“This incident underscores the volatility of the situation on the ground in Afghanistan, but also strengthens our resolve as we continue to deliver urgent assistance across the country in support of the Afghan people,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.
Norway said it could no longer assist in evacuating the remaining citizens from Afghanistan’s capital.
“The doors at the airport are now closed and it is no longer possible to get people in,” foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide said.
Eyewitnesses tell of the tragedy
Witnesses have described the horror as the explosions occurred.
“When people heard the explosion there was total panic. The Taliban then started firing in the air to disperse the crowd at the gate,” a witness told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“I saw a man rushing with an injured baby in his hands.”
“Bodies, flesh and people were thrown into a canal nearby,” said a second witness, Milad, who was at the scene of the first blast.
“I saw a man rushing with an injured baby in his hands.”
In the confusion, he said he dropped the documents he hoped would help him board a flight with his wife and three children.
“I will never ever want to go (to the airport) again. Death to America, its evacuation and visas.”
An Afghan interpreter who was near the airport trying to “get the hell out” of the country told CBS News he saw “a lot of people” get hurt in the attack. He tried to save a young girl, but she died in his arms.
“I saw a baby girl. And I went to her, and I picked her up,” he said.
“I took her to the hospital, but she died in my hands. What’s going on right now is heartbreaking. This whole country is falling apart.
“I did my best to help her, but she died.”
Images posted on social media showed men ferrying injured people to safety in wheelbarrows.
In another picture a boy was seen clutching the arm of a man whose clothes were soaked in blood.
More than 95,000 Afghans and foreigners have fled Afghanistan via the US-led airlift since the hard line Taliban movement took control of the country on August 15.
US, allies warned of imminent terror attacks
Australian citizens were warned not to head to Kabul’s airport after intelligence reports warned of a potential attack.
“Do not travel to Kabul airport. If you’re in the area of the airport, move to a safe location and await further advice,” the The Department of Foreign Affairs advice read.
“There’s an ongoing and very high threat of terrorist attack.”
Foreign Minister Marise Payne warned access to the airport was “extremely limited”.
“We do understand that this is an extremely distressing situation for Australians, Australian family members still in Kabul, people with visas and for family and friends who are here in Australia,” she said.
Already, some countries have ended their evacuations and begun to withdraw their soldiers and diplomats, signalling the beginning of the end of one of history’s largest airlifts.
The Taliban have so far honoured a pledge not to attack Western forces during the evacuation, but insist the foreign troops must be out by America’s self-imposed deadline of August 31.
There are just five days left until the deadline set by the United States to end the airlifts.
Mr Biden had pledged the US would respond if its flights were not allowed to fly out of Kabul airport.
— with AFP
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