UPDATE: 11 US Marines injured in bombing at Kabul airport, numbers expected to rise
At least 10 U.S. Marines and soldiers have been killed in the suicide bombing outside Kabul airport Thursday, U.S. officials tell Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson.
Dozens of service members have been wounded in the explosion as well, the officials added.
The death toll of the U.S. service members also is likely to rise, U.S. officials tell Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin.
ORIGINAL POST
At least three U.S. service members have been injured after a suicide bombing outside of the Abbey Gate at Kabul’s airport. Fox News reports that a firefight ensued inside the Afghanistan airport immediately following the suicide bombing. Officials recently confirmed a second explosion at the nearby Baron Hotel, a common gathering place for Americans seeking to flee the country.
John Kirby, the Pentagon’s Press Secretary, confirmed the airport explosion via Twitter: “We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can.”
BREAKING: second bombing reported outside Baron hotel. @FoxNews https://t.co/Uc6rtUa1en
— Angela Ganote (@angelaganote) August 26, 2021
Amid the chaos in Kabul, the United States Embassy in Afghanistan has issued an immediate travel warning: “U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid airport gates at this time.”
“There has been a large explosion at the airport, and there are reports of gunfire. U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately.”
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken speculated that there could be as many as 1,500 still waiting to be evacuated from the country.
The United States is aiming to safely return all Americans back to the U.S. prior to August 31st when the military plans to withdraw from the country.
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