The death toll in two bomb attacks at the Kabul airport on Thursday evening has crossed 100, with 90 of the victims being Afghans, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Thirteen of the victims were US Marines. At least 100 people have been injured in the attack, including 18 US service personnel. The attacks came hours after the US, UK and Australia issued advisories for people to stay clear of the Kabul airport given the risk of terror attacks.
Terror group ISIS claimed responsibility for what it termed a "martyrdom attack". US officials have stated the local affiliate of ISIS in Afghanistan, called ISIS-K, had carried out the attack.
Two suicide bombers struck a crowded area outside the airport: One attack targeted a checkpoint where US personnel were searching people who would be boarding flights, while the other attack happened at the adjoining Baron Hotel.
Responding to news of the attacks, US President Joe Biden said, "To 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... We will respond with force and precision at our time, at the place we choose and at the moment of our choosing."
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NBC News reported Biden "had ordered his commanders to develop plans to strike assets, leaders and facilities of ISIS-K".
Speaking to reporters, Biden warned the Taliban that it was in the group's interests that ISIS-K did not grow. Biden said, “It is in the interest of the Taliban that the ISIS-K does not metastasise beyond what it is."
Criticising the new regime in Kabul, Biden said, "No one trusts them (the Taliban). We're just counting on their self-interest to continue to generate their activities. And it's in their self-interest that we leave when we said and that we get as many people out as we can. They (Taliban) are not good guys... but they have a keen interest... they very much like to figure out how to keep the airport open and have the capacity to do it. They are trying to figure out whether or not they can maintain what is a portion of an economy that has become not robust but fundamentally different than it had been."
Evacuations to go on
Despite the attacks, Biden vowed to continue the evacuation efforts from the airport, with the US withdrawal deadline of August 31 approaching. Biden said, "We will not be deterred by terrorists. We will not let them stop our mission... We will continue the evacuation."
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also reiterated the UK would continue with the evacuation operation, noting, "we're now coming towards the end of it". Johnson argued, "what this attack shows is the importance of continuing that work in as fast and as efficient manner as possible in the hours that remain to us".
