This report is developing and will be updated as more information become available.
Update: The Pentagon has confirmed 11 Marines and one Navy medic were killed in the suicide bombings.
Update: At least 10 U.S. Marines were killed in Thursday’s attacks.
At least 10 US service members have been killed outside the airport in Kabul — from US officials according to our Pentagon team.
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) August 26, 2021
Update: The Wall Street Journal has reported that four U.S. Maries were killed in the Kabul airport explosion. Washington Post reporter tweets remaining planned evacuations have been canceled, leaving U.S. citizens and allies trapped in Afghanistan.
The Kabul airport attack has nixed hopes of evacuation for the last thousands still hoping to make it out. Am hearing the US military is sealing shut the airport gates. The casualty numbers are growing by the minute. A tragedy piled on a tragedy.
— Liz Sly (@LizSly) August 26, 2021
The U.S. ambassador in Kabul has told staff there that four U.S. Marines were killed in an explosion at the city’s airport and three wounded, a U.S. official with knowledge of the briefing said. Two explosions ripped through crowds of Afghans trying to enter the airport on Thursday.
At least three U.S. troops were injured, a U.S. official said. Witnesses reported multiple fatalities among the Afghans, many of whom were trying to enter the airport because they had assisted U.S.-led coalition efforts and feared persecution by the Taliban.
Update: The Pentagon has confirmed a second explosion and confirmed U.S. casualties, so far it’s unclear the exact number of injuries and fatalities from the pair of attacks.
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. 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.
— Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021
UPDATE: There has been a report of a second explosion:
NEW: @JenGriffinFNC One explosion reported near Barron hotel – where Americans in past have gathered for rescue.
This makes two confirmed explosions
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) August 26, 2021
The Pentagon has confirmed a major explosion at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. So far there are no reports of possible casualties from the explosion. The explosion comes hours after threats of an attack prompted shutdowns at the airport forcing fleeing Americans and Afghans to leave. In days since the Taliban’s takeover, massive crowds have swarmed the airport with people trying to leave the country, reports have confirmed the Taliban has set up check points around the airport making it more difficult and dangerous to access.
We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can.
— Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021
According to reports by CNN, the explosion has been confirmed and President Biden has been briefed on the situation. A Pentagon briefing is scheduled to take place within the hour.
So far, it’s unclear how this will affect evacuations from the airport as the August 31 deadline swiftly approaches. CNN has speculated that terrorist groups ISIS or Al Qaeda could be behind the attack by using a suicide bomber.
CNN’s Chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins tweeted about the explosion.
There was an explosion at the Hamid Karzai International Airport Thursday, two US officials tell @barbarastarrcnn. Details are still unclear, but the Pentagon briefs in less than an hour.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 26, 2021
Afghanistan reporter Bilal Sarway tweeted that there are multiple casualties and fatalities but this has not yet been confirmed.
#AFG Explosion took place outside of the eastern gate of airport and gunfire is underway. There are casualties and fatalities, multiple eye witnesses tells me.
— BILAL SARWARY (@bsarwary) August 26, 2021
ABC reporter James Gordon Meek also tweeted that there are multiple fatalities in the area resulting from the blast.
Sources we are in touch with on the ground at HKIA say they see multiple fatalities in the area of the reported blast near an airport entry control point gate. Intelligence has been warning of an ISIS-Khorasan attack. https://t.co/mfiG8ee7xU
— James Gordon Meek (@meekwire) August 26, 2021