WASHINGTON, GESAHKITA COM—Last Update From Afghanistan US Positioning, President Joe Biden vowed to complete the U.S. evacuation mission in Afghanistan after at least 13 U.S. service members and dozens of others were killed in explosions outside Kabul’s airport — promising that those responsible would “pay.”
“We will not forgive, we will not forget, we will hunt you down and make you pay,” Biden said at the White House on Thursday evening. At least 60 Afghans were killed, the Associated Press reported, citing U.S. and Afghan officials.
A Taliban official, who asked not to be identified, confirmed the death toll late Thursday and said about 150 others were wounded.
Australia halted evacuations of its citizens and visa holders because of the attack, which caused several nations to recalibrate their plans for getting people out. Biden’s Aug. 31 deadline to complete the evacuation mission remains in place despite the deadly attacks, a White House official said.
The attacks came as North Atlantic Treaty Organization-member nations began winding down evacuations. Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium have announced they are no longer organizing flights from Kabul’s airport. With Biden sticking to his Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline, the window for airlifts is closing fast.
The attacks came as North Atlantic Treaty Organization-member nations began winding down evacuations. Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium have announced they are no longer organizing flights from Kabul’s airport. With Biden sticking to his Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline, the window for airlifts is closing fast.
“Australia’s completion of our operations mirrors that of many other countries now,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra. The nation, an ally of the U.S. and a participant in its two-decade war in Afghanistan, evacuated some 4,100 people from the country since it fell to the Taliban, he said.
Morrison added there are no plans for Australia to engage in any further operations in Afghanistan as it moves into a “post-evacuation” phase. “We have been there for 20 years,” he said. “Seeking to turn from a failed state into a successful state and, sadly, that hasn’t proved possible.”
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said there were still Australian citizens remaining in Kabul, without providing numbers. She wasn’t able to confirm whether any had been killed or injured in the attacks. — Jason Scott
Another U.S. Service Member Has Died, Pentagon Says (7:20 p.m. ET)
A 13th U.S. service member has died in the Kabul attacks, the Defense Department said Thursday.
Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for the Defense Department’s Central Command, said in a statement that the man “has died of his wounds suffered as a result of the attack on Abbey Gate,” an entryway to the Kabul airport, where the massive airlift has been underway.
Urban added that 18 other service members were wounded “all of whom are in the process of being aeromedically evacuated from Afghanistan on specially equipped C-17s with embarked surgical units.”
Deadline Won’t Change, White House Says (6:30 p.m. ET)
Biden’s Aug. 31 deadline to complete the evacuation mission in Afghanistan remains in place despite the deadly attacks, a White House official said.
“Nothing has changed on that timeline,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a Thursday evening press conference. She added that U.S. military commanders have advised the president to hold to the deadline.
Psaki said the American flag would be flown at half staff at government buildings and military bases to honor the U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan. “I am certain the president will do everything he can to honor the sacrifice and service” of those who died, Psaki said. — John Harney
Biden Pledges to Hunt Down Attackers (5:50 p.m. ET)
Biden said a group known as Isis K was behind the assaults near the Kabul airport on Thursday.
“To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down. And make you pay,” Biden said during an address to the nation. “I will defend our interests and our people with every measure in my command.”
“We will not be deterred by terrorists,” Biden added. “We will not let them stop our mission. We will continue the evacuation. I also ordered my commanders to develop operational plans to strike Isis K assets, leadership and facilities.”
McCarthy Calls for Congress to Return (3:59 p.m. ET)
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring Congress back into session to address the attack, adding that “our enemies have taken advantage of the chaotic nature of the withdrawal.”
The California Republican said lawmakers must return before Aug. 31 for briefings from the administration and to pass GOP legislation barring the withdrawal of U.S. troops until every American is out of Afghanistan. Pelosi did not respond directly to McCarthy, but said she has requested the executive branch brief lawmakers.
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff said his panel would investigate the withdrawal and its aftermath. — Laura Litvan
Most Americans Taking Steps to Exit (3:23 p.m. ET)
The U.S. State Department said it’s in contact with about 1,000 Americans it believes remain in Afghanistan and over two-thirds of them indicated they’re taking steps to exit the country.
The U.S. has concluded 500 of the 1,500 Americans it was earlier tracking as being in Afghanistan have been evacuated, the department said in a statement.
The department also said it has heard from about 500 people in the last 24 hours who claim to be Americans seeking to leave the country. The U.S. is seeking to contact those people but the department said many of those people may not really be American citizens. — Sophia Cai
U.S. Says Islamic State Likely to Blame (3:09 p.m. ET)
The head of U.S. Central Command said militants from Islamic State were likely behind the pair of blasts outside Kabul’s airport and said “if we can find who is associated with this, we will go after them.”
General Kenneth McKenzie said he expects more attacks as the U.S. moves to continue evacuations and pull American forces out of Afghanistan by Aug. 31. He estimated that just over 1,000 Americans remain in the country, though he said he doesn’t know how many want to leave.
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