Terror attacks have rocked the Hamid Karzai International Airport in the Afghan capital on August 26, leaving tens of people dead and many more injured. At least 13 US service members have died, and 18 more are injured, confirmed the Pentagon.
Around 170 Afghans in the vicinity of the bombings lost their lives, while many more are injured.
A suicide bomber is believed to have been responsible for a blast at the Abbey Gate, while a vehicle laden with bombs is suspected of having been detonated near the Baron hotel, not far from the gate. BBC reports that the Baron hotel was being used by the British troops to process Afghan visa applications.
“The injured US service members are being aeromedically evacuated from Afghanistan on specially equipped C-17s with embarked surgical units,” said a press note from the CENTCOM.
The intent to attack the US forces or its allies was not unforeseen.
The Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby, who called the terror attack heinous and complex, had recently said the ‘situation on the ground was dynamic and perilous.’ There had been reports from both the US and the UK over the last couple of days indicating a threat of an impending terror attack.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack on their Telegram channel.
President Joe Biden vowed to hunt down those responsible for the attack. However, it is being made clear that the current evacuations will proceed as scheduled, aiming for a complete withdrawal by August 31.
While Canada had earlier confirmed their exit, the French President Emmanuel Macron promised to see through the evacuation operations firmly, and as did the Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson.
India condemns the terror attacks
Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, the Official Spokesperson of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, strongly condemned the terror attacks.
India is involved in hundreds of development projects in Afghanistan and has evacuated all those who had been working there, along with its embassy staff.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the terror attacks and said the United Nations resolve to deliver urgent assistance is strengthened.
This story has been updated with the number of casualties as of August 29.