At least 10 U.S. service members have been killed by the bombings in Kabul, Afghanistan today. The dead include 11 Marines and one Navy Medic.
It marks the first deaths in the Country since early 2020 and comes as the Biden administration is criticized by Americans and NATO allies for its disastrous pull-out.
“We can confirm that a number of U.S. service members were killed in today’s complex attack at Kabul airport,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.
Dozens of others soldiers are being treated for wounds, he added.
“We also know that a number of Afghans fell victim to this heinous attack,” Kirby said. “our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and injured.”
The bombings took place at or near the Abbey Gate, which sits on the eastern side of the airport, on Thursday evening local time.
One went off at the gate before at least one other exploded near the Baron Hotel, situated a short distance from the gate.
Photographs showed injured and bloodied people, with one local outlet saying hospital staffers reported six dead people.
U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation in Washington, as was Vice President Kamala Harris during her return trip from Asia, administration officials said. Biden and the White House again canceled or pushed back scheduled news conferences and meetings. Amazingly, the admimistration has not offered an official statement more than two hours after the bombings happened.
Other world leaders warned that the situation at the airport was dangerous and unstable with just days left before the United States is slated to withdraw the rest of its troops. One German leader said Biden’s actions in Afghanistan constitute the greatest failure of NATO in its 70-year history.
“The next hours will remain extremely dangerous in Kabul and at the airport,” French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters while visiting Ireland.
No group has taken responsibility for the attack, which was condemned by the Taliban and believed by some to be the work of the ISIS terrorist group and its affiliates.
Members of Congress, meanwhile, urged Biden to emerge and address the nation on what happened.
“The American people need to hear from President Biden today on his plan to get every American out of Afghanistan,” Rep. Fred Keller (R-Pa.) said on social media.
“President Biden, turn our military loose so they can do their job to get every American out safely and get them out now!” added Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Ga.).
Calls for Biden and Harris to resign are increasing across the nation.
–Wire services