2021 — Aug 26, ISIS-K suicide bomber, US military killed, Kabul, Afghanistan, AP — 13

–13 ABC News. “What we know about US service members killed in Kabul airport attack.” 8-28-2021.
–11 Marines
— 1 Army soldier
— 1 Navy medic
–13 AP. “The Latest: Bomber carried unusually large explosive pack.” Kansas City Star, 8-27-2021.
–13 Reuters. “Pentagon bracing for more attacks after troops killed at Kabul airport.” 8-26-2021.
–13 Reuters. “U.S. on alert for further Kabul attacks…coming days the most dangerous.” 8-27-2021.

Narrative Information

Aug 26, Reuters: “Washington, Aug 26 (Reuters) – American forces in Kabul were bracing for more Islamic State attacks while winding up their evacuation mission, U.S. officials said, as the number of U.S. troops killed in Thursday’s suicide bomb attack rose to 13. A U.S. official told Reuters the number of U.S. personnel killed was likely to rise even higher. More than a dozen were wounded.

“The attack marked the first U.S. military casualties in Afghanistan since February 2020 and represented the deadliest incident for American troops in the country in a decade.

“At least two explosions tore through crowds that had thronged the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport desperate to leave Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power almost two weeks ago ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden’s Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw American troops after two decades.

“In a statement, Islamic State claimed responsibility and said one of its suicide bombers had targeted ‘translators and collaborators with the American army.’

“Marine Corps General Frank McKenzie, head of the U.S. military’s Central Command, told a news briefing the explosions were followed by gunfight. McKenzie said the threat from Islamic State persists alongside ‘other active threat streams.’ ‘We believe it is their desire to continue these attacks and we expect those attacks to continue – and we’re doing everything we can to be prepared,’ McKenzie said…. McKenzie said he saw nothing that would convince him that Taliban forces had let the attack take place.

“U.S. officials said one bomb detonated near the airport’s Abbey Gate and the other was close to the nearby Baron Hotel.

“A massive airlift of U.S. and other foreign nationals and their families as well as some Afghans has been under way since the day before Taliban forces captured Kabul on Aug. 15, capping a swift advance across the country as American and allied troops withdrew.

“The United States has been racing to carry out the airlift before its military is set to fully withdraw from the country by Aug. 31. McKenzie said the evacuation mission was not going to stop….

“Islamic State militants have emerged in Afghanistan as enemies both of the West and the Taliban. A 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban from power after the group had harbored the al Qaeda militants responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. The U.S. military death toll in the Afghanistan war since 2001 stood at roughly 2,500.

“Afghan health officials were quoted as saying 60 civilians died, but it was not clear whether that was a complete count. Video uploaded by Afghan journalists showed dozens of bodies and wounded victims strewn around a canal on the edge of the airport.

“U.S. officials have said there are about 5,200 American troops providing airport security. The attacks came after the United States and allies had urged Afghans to leave the area around the airport because of a threat by Islamic State.

“The U.S. Embassy in Kabul a day earlier had advised Americans to avoid traveling to the airport and said those already at the gates should leave immediately, citing unspecified ‘security threats.’

“The United States and its allies have mounted one of the biggest air evacuations in history, bringing out about 95,700 people, including 13,400 on Wednesday, according to the White House.”

Aug 27, Reuters: “….U.S. forces helping to evacuate Afghans desperate to flee Taliban rule were on alert for more attacks on Friday [27th] after an Islamic State suicide bombing killed at least 92 people, including 13 U.S. service members, just outside Kabul airport….Some U.S. media including the New York Times cited local health officials as saying up to 170 people, not including the U.S. troops, had died in the attack….

“Islamic State (ISIS), an enemy of the Islamist Taliban as well as the West, has claimed responsibility for the attack, which the Pentagon said on Friday was carried out by one suicide bomber at an airport gate, not two as it earlier stated. The Pentagon had said on Thursday a second bomb had exploded at a nearby hotel.

“The number of Afghans killed has risen to 79, a hospital official told Reuters on Friday, adding that more than 120 were wounded. A Taliban official said the dead included 28 Taliban members, although a spokesman later denied any such fighters had been killed….

“Those killed on Thursday included two British nationals and the child of a third British national, British foreign minister Dominic Raab said….” (Reuters. “U.S. on alert for further Kabul attacks, calls coming days the most dangerous.” 8-27-2021.)

Aug 27, AP: “Washington — The suicide bomber who killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members at the Kabul airport carried about 25 pounds of explosives, loaded with shrapnel, a U.S. official said Friday [27th]. The massive amount of explosives and spray of shrapnel created such a large blast that it killed U.S. troops who were inside the airport gate as well as troops and Afghans outside, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss preliminary assessments of the bombing. A more routine suicide bomber will often carry from five to 10 pounds of explosives.

“According to officials, the bomber got to within several yards of the Kabul airport gate, where Afghans were crowded in as part of the ongoing chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan.” (Associated Press. “The Latest: Bomber carried unusually large explosive pack.” Kansas City Star, 8-27-2021.)

Sources

ABC News. “What we know about US service members killed in Kabul airport attack.” 8-28-2021. Accessed 8-30-2021 at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-service-members-killed-kabul-airport-attack/story?id=79685589

Associated Press. “The Latest: Bomber carried unusually large explosive pack.” Kansas City Star, 8-27-2021. Accessed 8-27-2021 at: https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/national-international/article253784723.html

Reuters (Idrees Ali, Jonathan Landay, Humeyra Pamuk). “Pentagon bracing for more attacks after troops killed at Kabul airport.” 8-26-2021. Accessed 8-26-2021 at: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/explosion-outside-kabul-airport-casualties-unclear-pentagon-2021-08-26/

Reuters. “U.S. on alert for further Kabul attacks, calls coming days the most dangerous.” 8-27-2021. Accessed 8-27-2021 at: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/western-nations-race-complete-afghan-evacuation-deadline-looms-2021-08-25/