Bloodbath in Kabul after suicide bombings near main gate of Kabul airport, several killed

Aug. 26: Two explosions struck near the main gate of Kabul airport on Thursday evening in what the US military labelled a “complex attack”, with several civilians and American troops among the casualties. Visuals from outside the airport showed dozens of bodies of people killed in tightly packed crowds outside the airport. Media reports said the number of deaths are at least 40.

The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State – Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) –  is believed to be responsible for the attack, a Reuters source familiar with the US congressional briefings said. ISIS-K is opposed by the United States and the Taliban. The Taliban condemned the blasts in an area they said was under the control of US military. “The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing targeting civilians at Kabul airport,” a statement released by the group’s spokesman on Twitter said.

The United States and its allies have urged people to move away from Kabul airport due to the threat of an attack by the ISIL (ISIS) armed group as Western troops hurry to evacuate as many people as possible before an August 31 deadline. In the 11 days since the Taliban swept into Kabul, the US and its allies have mounted one of the biggest air evacuations in history, bringing out more than 88,000 people. The US military says planes are taking off the equivalent of every 39 minutes.

India strongly condemned the bomb blasts and said, “Today’s attacks reinforce the need for the world to stand unitedly against terrorism and all those who provide sanctuaries to terrorists”.