23:35 27/08/2021
The Pentagon says it has concluded that Thursday's bloody incident at Kabul airport was carried out by just one suicide bomber and not two, as previously reported.
The Pentagon announced that the author of the suicide bombing was an operative of the Islamic State and carried out the attack near the Abbey Gate, where Afghans were waiting in the hope of entering the Kabul airport and where American troops were conducting security checks.
Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor, deputy director for regional operations at the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Friday that there was no second explosion near the Baron Hotel near the airport.
He said the blast at Abbey Gate was followed by live gunfire from the north side of the gate. The army described the incident as a complex attack. Maj. Gen. Taylor said the military has no further details on the identity of those who fired the gun. He explained that reports of two explosions were the result of initial confusion.
Two officials said 169 Afghans were killed, although it will take time to confirm the final death toll. The US said 13 US troops were killed in the incident, which marked the bloodiest day for US forces in Afghanistan since August 2011.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the crowds dispersed Friday at the dinner after rumors spread that another terrorist attack could be imminent. A VOA reporter who was at the scene of Thursday's blast said the streets were largely deserted and that the Taliban had blocked traffic near the airport.
US President Joe Biden has vowed revenge against those responsible for the deadly attack:
"Those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who hates America, know this: We will not forgive them," Mr. Biden said in a nationally televised speech. "We will track you down, we will find you and you will pay."
President Biden said he has ordered commanders to draw up operational plans to strike the leadership and facilities of the ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-K. "We will respond with force and precision when we see fit and where we judge it appropriate," said the president.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the blast late Thursday, saying one of its fighters carried out the suicide blast and posted a photo of a man posing with an explosive vest, which it identified as the attacker.
Meanwhile, about 105,000 people have been airlifted out of Afghanistan since August 14, when the Taliban took over Kabul. Since the end of July, the total number of evacuees is estimated at around 110,600 people. According to officials, 12,500 people have been evacuated since Thursday.
General Taylor said more than 300 Americans were taken out of the country on Thursday, bringing the total to about 5100 since evacuations began. The US State Department continues work on preparing documentation for evacuation, despite the increased risks on the ground.
"Some gates have been closed, but US citizens, special immigrant visa holders and Afghans at risk who have the proper documentation will continue to be screened in preparation for departure from the airport."
Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Friday that the Defense Department has authorized three US military facilities to be added to the previous list of four facilities that would provide "mission support for the evacuation of Afghans with special immigration visas and families of them as well as other individuals at risk".
Asked if the U.S. could simultaneously plan and execute counterattacks against ISIS while evacuations continue, Maj. Gen. Taylor said, "We have resources at Central Command as well as commanders on the ground, which gives us the capacity to conduct operations. that we need to achieve"./VOA
Source of information @TvKlan: Read more at: www.botasot.al
