Wounded women arrive at a hospital for treatment after two blasts in Kabul on August 26, 2021. (Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)
Children, US Soldiers Among Those Killed in Explosions Outside Kabul Airport
"We're not seeing a failed withdrawal. We're seeing the inevitable consequences of intervention."
This is a developing news story... Check back for possible updates...
Children, adult civilians, and U.S. military personnel were among those reportedly killed or wounded Thursday in a pair of explosions near Kabul's international airport, the site of a chaotic evacuation effort that the Biden administration is aiming to complete by early next week.
Citing the U.S. envoy in Kabul, the Wall Street Journal reported that at least 60 Afghans and a dozen U.S. Marines were killed in the explosions, which Pentagon officials said were caused by two suicide bombers. An ISIS affiliate has claimed responsibility for the blasts.
U.S. Defense Department Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed that there were at least two explosions, one of which he said was "the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of U.S. and civilian casualties."
"We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from [the Kabul airport's] Abbey Gate," Kirby wrote on Twitter.
The explosions came after the U.S., United Kingdom, and other Western governments warned their citizens earlier Thursday not to travel to the Kabul airport, pointing to "very credible" intelligence indicating a possible attack.
Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement following the deadly blasts that Afghan officials "have warned U.S. troops about possible terrorist groups such as ISIS."
"The Taliban are committed to the international community and will not allow terrorists to use Afghanistan as a base for their operations," Mujahid added.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
This is a developing news story... Check back for possible updates...
Children, adult civilians, and U.S. military personnel were among those reportedly killed or wounded Thursday in a pair of explosions near Kabul's international airport, the site of a chaotic evacuation effort that the Biden administration is aiming to complete by early next week.
Citing the U.S. envoy in Kabul, the Wall Street Journal reported that at least 60 Afghans and a dozen U.S. Marines were killed in the explosions, which Pentagon officials said were caused by two suicide bombers. An ISIS affiliate has claimed responsibility for the blasts.
U.S. Defense Department Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed that there were at least two explosions, one of which he said was "the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of U.S. and civilian casualties."
"We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from [the Kabul airport's] Abbey Gate," Kirby wrote on Twitter.
The explosions came after the U.S., United Kingdom, and other Western governments warned their citizens earlier Thursday not to travel to the Kabul airport, pointing to "very credible" intelligence indicating a possible attack.
Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement following the deadly blasts that Afghan officials "have warned U.S. troops about possible terrorist groups such as ISIS."
"The Taliban are committed to the international community and will not allow terrorists to use Afghanistan as a base for their operations," Mujahid added.
This is a developing news story... Check back for possible updates...
Children, adult civilians, and U.S. military personnel were among those reportedly killed or wounded Thursday in a pair of explosions near Kabul's international airport, the site of a chaotic evacuation effort that the Biden administration is aiming to complete by early next week.
Citing the U.S. envoy in Kabul, the Wall Street Journal reported that at least 60 Afghans and a dozen U.S. Marines were killed in the explosions, which Pentagon officials said were caused by two suicide bombers. An ISIS affiliate has claimed responsibility for the blasts.
U.S. Defense Department Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed that there were at least two explosions, one of which he said was "the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of U.S. and civilian casualties."
"We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from [the Kabul airport's] Abbey Gate," Kirby wrote on Twitter.
The explosions came after the U.S., United Kingdom, and other Western governments warned their citizens earlier Thursday not to travel to the Kabul airport, pointing to "very credible" intelligence indicating a possible attack.
Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement following the deadly blasts that Afghan officials "have warned U.S. troops about possible terrorist groups such as ISIS."
"The Taliban are committed to the international community and will not allow terrorists to use Afghanistan as a base for their operations," Mujahid added.