LIVE: Pentagon says Kabul attack carried out by one suicide bomber

Afghanistan terror attack LIVE updates: Suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds flocking to Kabul airport, transforming a scene of desperation into one of horror. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

9:26 AM

Israeli PM's meeting with Biden postponed after Kabul blasts

The meeting between visiting Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and US President Joe Biden will take place on Friday, a day later than originally scheduled, following the twin explosions at the Kabul airport that killed several American service members and Afghan civilians, according to authorities.

 

The meeting will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Bennett became Prime Minister in June.

 

The White House said the meeting between Biden and Bennett would be rescheduled for Friday.

9:14 AM

Talibs have learned well from the master: Amrullah Saleh, acting president of Afghanistan

"Talibs have learned well from the master. Talibs denying links with ISIS is similar to denial of Pak on Quetta Shura. Every evidence we have in hand shows that IS-K cells have their roots in Talibs & Haqqani network...," tweets  Amrullah Saleh, acting president of Afghanistan

8:15 AM

US has reason to believe ISIS-K leaders behind Kabul attacks: Biden

S President Joe Biden said the United States has reason to believe the leaders of the Islamic State-Khorasan terror group are behind the attacks at the Kabul airport that killed 12 US service members.

 

"With regard to finding, tracking down the ISIS [Islamic State] leaders who ordered this, we have some reason to believe we know who they are, not certain, and we will find ways of our choosing without large military operations to get them," Biden said on Thursday.

 

Biden said the Islamic State-Khorasan has planned complex attacks against US forces and others in Afghanistan after they were released from prisons during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

 

He said that some 7,000 people have left Afghanistan in the last 12 hours and more than 100,000 in the last 11 days.

 

"These American service members who gave their lives, it is an overused word but it is totally appropriate here, were heroes. Heroes who have been engaged in a dangerous selfless mission to save the lives of others. They are part of an airlift and evacuation effort unlike any seen in history with more than 100,000 American citizens, American partners, Afghans who helped us and others who have taken safety in the last 11 days," Biden said. "Just in last 12 hours or so another 7,000 have gotten out."

 

He also called the American service members who lost their lives "heroes" and "the best the country has to offer."

 

"We will not forgive. We'll not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," the President said adding "the lives we lost today were lives given in the service of liberty, the service of security, the service of others, in the service of America."

7:52 AM

Afghanistan terror attack LIVE: US flag to fly at half-mast until August 30 in honour of Kabul attack victims

The US flag will be flown at half-mast until the evening of August 30 to honour the victims killed in the terrorist attacks in Afghanistan's Kabul, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

 

Earlier on Thursday (local time), bomb attacks at the Kabul airport killed 13 US troops and injured an additional 15 service members as well as numerous Afghan civilians.

 

"As a mark for respect, starting today, the United States flag will be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds... until sunset on August 30, 2021, in honour of the victims of the senseless acts of violence in Kabul," Psaki said.

 

Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense spokesperson confirmed the death toll of US service members killed in attacks near the Kabul airport has increased from 12 to 13.

7:47 AM

Afghanistan crisis LIVE updates: Military veterans warn US against delaying Afghanistan exit

In the bloody aftermath of two deadly suicide bombings near Kabul airport on Thursday, top US military veterans are warning of "nightmare" scenarios if US forces delay their exit from Afghanistan beyond August 31.

 

"If we stay against the will of the Taliban -- on Wednesday morning -- the nightmare scenario is light machine gun fire, and a dozen mortar rounds, closing down their evacuation of our forces. At which point, we've got a real problem," retired four star general Barry Richard McCaffrey said in a television interview on Thursday.

 

Earlier this week, Taliban made it clear that they would not accept US military presence at the airport beyond August 31. That date is a result of deals struck with the Taliban -- first by the Donald Trump administration and follow-through action by the Joe Biden administration.

7:46 AM

Afghanistan terror attack LIVE: 'We will hunt you down and make you pay': Biden warns Kabul airport attackers

President Joe Biden has vowed to "hunt" down the terrorists and make them "pay" for the deadly attacks outside the Kabul airport in which 13 US service members were killed and 18 others wounded.

 

Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's airport on Thursday, killing at least 60 Afghans and 13 US troops.

 

To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm notice, we will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay. I will defend our interests and our people with every measure at my command, Biden told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

7:42 AM

Kabul airport attack kills 60 Afghans and 13 US troops; Biden vows revenge

Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's airport Thursday, transforming a scene of desperation into one of horror in the waning days of an airlift for those fleeing the Taliban takeover. The attacks killed at least 60 Afghans and 13 U.S. troops, Afghan and U.S. officials said.

 

The U.S. general overseeing the evacuation said the attacks would not stop the United States from evacuating Americans and others, and flights out were continuing. Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said there was a large amount of security at the airport, and alternate routes were being used to get evacuees in. About 5,000 people were awaiting flights on the airfield, McKenzie said. Read on...

7:40 AM

Afghanistan crisis LIVE updates: UNGA president calls for protecting civilians in Afghanistan

The President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Volkan Bozkir, has called for protecting civilians following the reported twin suicide explosions outside of Kabul airport.

 

"Protection of civilians and rights and freedoms of Afghan people - in particular women and children must be a priority," the UNGA president said on Thursday in a note emailed to UN correspondents, Xinhua news agency reported.

 

Bozkir noted that for 40 years, the General Assembly has addressed "the situation in Afghanistan," focusing on peace, stability, good governance, human rights and development.

 

"During its last meeting on December 10, 2020, the UN membership expressed much hope with many fronts in Afghanistan's path towards peace and political reconciliation."

 

"Unfortunately, the hope is overshadowed with recent developments during the past two weeks. Above all, the news of reportedly twin suicide explosions today, outside of Kabul airport, is alarming," he said.

7:38 AM

More than 100,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan since August 14: White House

"Since August 14, the US has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 100,100 people" from Afghanistan, White House says.

 

Over a 12-hour period on Thursday, when an Islamic State suicide attack killed dozens, "approximately 7,500 people were evacuated"

7:35 AM

Afghanistan LIVE updates: UNGA president calls for protecting civilians in Afghanistan

The President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Volkan Bozkir, has called for protecting civilians following the reported twin suicide explosions outside of Kabul airport.

 

"Protection of civilians and rights and freedoms of Afghan people - in particular women and children must be a priority," the UNGA president said on Thursday in a note emailed to UN correspondents, Xinhua news agency reported.

 

Bozkir noted that for 40 years, the General Assembly has addressed "the situation in Afghanistan," focusing on peace, stability, good governance, human rights and development.

7:34 AM

It is in Taliban's interest that ISIS-K doesn't 'metastasize' beyond what it is, warns Biden

US President Joe Biden has warned that it is in the interest of the Taliban, which is now the de facto ruler of Afghanistan, that the ISIS-K does not "metastasize" beyond what it is.

 

The US has held ISIS-K, the regional affiliate of the Islamic State terror outfit, responsible for Thursday's Kabul airport attack in which 13 American soldiers were killed and 18 others injured.

 

It is in the interest of the Taliban that the ISIS-K does not metastasize beyond what it is, Biden told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

 

During his interaction with reporters in the East Room of the White House, the president also referred to the apparent ideological differences between the Taliban and the ISIS-K.

 

Biden said there is no evidence so far to suggest a collusion between the Taliban and the ISIS in carrying out the airport attack.