US has resumed evacuation flights as U.S. forces braced for further attacks ahead of the evacuation deadline on August 31.
The growing number of dead had reached 95 Afghans by early Friday, according to the Associated Press, which cited Afghan officials. Many more were injured.
Crowds of Afghans returned to Kabul’s airport Friday in an increasingly desperate attempt to escape the country after deadly suicide bombings killed 13 U.S. service members and at least 95 Afghans.
Thursday was the deadliest day for American forces in Afghanistan since August 2011.
Dozens of Taliban members carrying heavy weapons patrolled one area about 500 meters (1,600 feet) from the airport to prevent anyone from venturing beyond, media outlets reported.
The Islamic State terror group’s Afghan affiliate claimed responsibility for the “martyrdom attack” outside Kabul airport, which involved two suicide bombers who detonated explosive belts at the airport’s gate.
President Joe Biden addressed Thursday evening to the families of the US troops and Afghans killed in the terrorist attack at Kabul airport.
Speaking with emotion from the White House, President Biden vowed to avenge the fallen soldiers, who he said were engaged “in a dangerous mission to save the lives of others”. He said that the United States will “hunt down” the attackers and “make them pay”.
“For those who carried out this attack as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay,” Biden said in an address at the White House on Thursday.
More than 70,000 people have been evacuated since mid-August, according to the White House.
McKenzie, Head of the US Central Command General said Thursday that about 5,000 people were awaiting flights on the airfield and there were about 1,000 Americans still in Afghanistan, but that not all of them wanted to leave the country.
With less than a week remaining before the Aug. 31 deadline to complete the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, defense officials say they’re developing plans to strike back against those responsible for the attack, which included two suicide bombers and gunfire.
“We are working very hard right now to determine attribution, to determine who is associated with this cowardly attack, and we’re prepared to take action against them,” Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, told reporters Thursday afternoon.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday ordered the flags at the US Capitol in Washington to be flown at half-staff “in honor of the US service members and others” killed in the attack.
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