Explosion at Kabul airport Aug. 26, 2021 (Video screenshot)
At least 10 U.S. military service members were killed in a suicide bombing Thursday outside a gate at Kabul's international airport in a coordinated attack that included a second bombing nearby.
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, outside the Baron Hotel near Kabul airport, where Americans were gathering for rescue operations. Last week, 169 Americans were rescued from that site by U.S. helicopters.
Intel sources believe the attacks Thursday were carried out by an ISIS cell.
Hundreds of members of ISIS-K – an offshoot of ISIS in Central Asia and South Asia – have surrounded the Kabul airport and attacks "are likely to continue," according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke with Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich.
State Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed the two attacks, which he said were coordinated.
"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."
Remarkably, the State Department later announced there will be no media briefing today.
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.
Taliban condemns
The ruling Taliban – which regards ISIS as a rival – condemned the airport bombing but blamed the U.S, saying it took place where American troops were in charge.
"Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing of civilians at Kabul airport, which took place in an area where U.S. forces are responsible for security," the Taliban's spokesman said in a tweet.
"The Islamic Emirate is paying close attention to the security and protection of its people, and evil circle will be strictly stopped," he said.
LISTEN: Afghan translator for the U.S. Marine Corps witnessed the explosions in Kabul and gives details of what the scene on the ground looks like.
He says he's bringing casualties to a local hospital. pic.twitter.com/7WQx2WXcvh
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 26, 2021
The Kabul airport attack, the Washington Post's Beirut bureau chief said, has dashed hopes of evacuation for thousands who are outside the airport gates.
"Am hearing the US military is sealing shut the airport gates," Liz Sly wrote on Twitter. "The casualty numbers are growing by the minute. A tragedy piled on a tragedy."
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 adhere 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 was in the Situation Room on Thursday morning along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The president's meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, which was scheduled for 11:30 a.m., was delayed.
Last Friday, in his address to the nation, Biden vowed a "swift and forceful response" to any "disruption" of the evacuations.
"Look, we've made clear to the Taliban, that any attack on our forces or disruption of our operations at the airport will be met with swift and forceful response," Biden said at the White House, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Biden said further that the U.S. is "keeping a close watch on any potential terrorist threat at or around the airport, including from the ISIS affiliates in Afghanistan who were released from prison when the prisons were emptied."
The president noted in the Friday address that ISIS in Afghanistan is a "sworn enemy of the Taliban."
"I've said all along, we're going to retain a laser focus on our counterterrorism mission, working in close coordination with our allies and partners, and all those who have an interest in ensuring stability in the region," Biden said.
BIDEN LAST WEEK: "Any attack on our forces or disruption of our operations at the airport will be met with swift and forceful response." pic.twitter.com/chiPr7LPou
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) August 26, 2021
On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said "the coming hours will remain extremely dangerous in Kabul and at the airport."
"We are confronted with a very tense situation and we are coordinating with our American allies," he said, according to CNN.
'A problem of will'
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is urging the Biden administration to reopen the Bagram Air Base "as the Kabul airport is very difficult to defend and has been the only evacuation outlet."
Bagram, which was the largest U.S. based in Afghanistan, is about 25 miles north of the Kabul airport.
"We have the capability to reestablish our presence at Bagram to continue to evacuate American citizens and our Afghan allies," Graham said via Twitter.
"It is not a capability problem, but a problem of will," he said.
Earlier this week, Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, declared Biden would "have blood on his hands" for not extending the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline.
"I can tell you there’s no way we can humanly get all of our American citizens and Afghan partners out of country by that time," he said at a press briefing Tuesday. "I've called this consistently an unmitigated disaster of epic proportions. It will be a stain on this presidency, and particularly of the decision made today, and what we heard today. He will have blood on his hands, people are gonna die."
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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