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Pentagon releases statement on Kabul bombings
Earlier today, multiple bombings took place throughout Kabul. One bombing was at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), and another reportedly occurred at a nearby hotel.
Earlier today, multiple bombings took place throughout Kabul.
The explosion at HKIA reportedly killed several U.S. service members and even more Afghan civilians. Some are saying that these were suicide bombings, though that has not been confirmed. The Pentagon has been slow to respond in terms of making this event transparent. However, there is some information to work with.
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A Pentagon press briefing was scheduled to happen shortly after the explosion, which was promptly cancelled. Since then, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby has released a series of updates on the situation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Statement on this morning's attack at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HKIA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HKIA</a>: <a href="https://t.co/Qb1DIAJQJU">pic.twitter.com/Qb1DIAJQJU</a></p>— Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder (@PentagonPresSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec/status/1430941547541979141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
While the total amount of casualties is not completely tallied yet, the updates coming from those close to the event are increasingly grim.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">UPDATE: At least 10 U.S. service members killed in suicide bombing outside Kabul airport, dozens wounded: U.S. officials</p>— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucasFoxNews/status/1430955194704138244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Besides reports of Military casualties, there are also varying estimates of the total amount of civilian deaths. The following tweet shows pictures of the chaos:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Photos: Casualties from blast near Kabul airport this evening. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZnbQrKf2Yh">pic.twitter.com/ZnbQrKf2Yh</a></p>— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/TOLOnews/status/1430896961016659980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
These bombings follow mounting concerns about ISIS attacking the airport to retaliate against U.S. forces and allies, and the Taliban. The total number of casualties continue to rise, as the number of U.S. service members who died from the bombings has now jumped to 12.
Fox News reported that eleven of those who died were Marines, and one was a Navy corpsman.
