On Thursday, US flags flown at the White House and federal buildings will be lowered to half-staff to honor the victims who died in Kabul.
During the White House briefing, press secretary Jen Psaki said flags would be lowered on Thursday and stay lowered until sunset on Aug. 30, “in honor of the victims of the senseless acts of violence in Kabul.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has 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.
“The United States House of Representatives strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attack outside Kabul airport, “ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.
“We mourn the loss of every innocent life taken, and we join every American in heartbreak over the deaths of the servicemembers killed, “ she added.
The terrorist attack in Kabul killed at least 60 people and 140 wounded, according to US media outlets including local Afghan media.
Reuters reports that an additional service member has died from the Kabul attack, bringing the number of US casualties to 13.
At least 18 US troops were injured in the twin attack at Kabul airport today, all of whom were in the process of being evacuated from Afghanistan on specially equipped C-17s with surgical units.
The identities and units of those killed will be withheld until 24 hours after all next-of-kin notifications are complete, according to the U.S. Marine Corps.
Speaking with emotion from the White House on Thursday, President Biden said “We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay,” he said of the ISIS-K terrorists.
Also Read | What is ISIS-K? Terrorist attack fears grow at Kabul airport-Report
President Biden promised that his administration will complete the evacuation of American citizens and others from Afghanistan despite a deadly suicide bomb attack at the Kabul airport.
The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, called Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq news outlet.
It claimed that some 160 were killed or wounded in a suicide attack, and said the victims were US forces and others collaborating with them. They also posted a picture of one suicide bomber.
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