Afghanistan: Evacuation resumes at Kabul airport, intel alert for more ISIS attacks

More than 100 people were killed, including 13 US troops and over 150 were wounded when two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's airport. The blasts came hours after Western officials warned of a major attack, urging people to leave the airport. Near about 5,000 people were awaiting flights on the airfield. 

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility of the Kabul airport suicide attack. The IS affiliate in Afghanistan is far more radical than the Taliban, who recently took control of the country in a lightning blitz. The Taliban were not believed to have been involved in the attacks and condemned the blasts, according to AP reports.

One of the bombers struck people standing knee-deep in a wastewater canal under the sweltering sun, throwing bodies into the fetid water. The second blast was at or near Baron Hotel, where many people, including Afghans, Britons and Americans, were told to gather in recent days before heading to the airport for evacuation. 

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has vowed to "hunt" down the terrorists and make them "pay" for the deadly attacks outside the Kabul airport. “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.

Kabul Airport Terrorist Attack | Updates 

7:40 pm | France establishes 'operational contact' with Taliban

France on Friday said it has established ‘operational contact’ with Taliban to facilitate evacuations from Afghanistan | Read More

6:12 pm | Last flight had 40 people: MEA on Kabul evacuation

"The last flight had 40 odd people. We were hearing reports that Afghan nationals were facing difficulties in reaching airport. We know some Afghan nationals, including Afghan Sikhs & Hindus, couldn't reach airport on August 25. Our flight had to come without them," MEA said. | Read More

4:51 pm | Majority of Indians who wish to return have been evacuated: MEA 

Day after the Kabul airport suicide blasts, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on evacuation from Afghanistan said, "Our overall assessment is that the vast majority of Indians who wish to return have been evacuated. Some more are likely to be in Afghanistan. I don't have the exact number for that." 

4:06 pm | Evacuation resumes at Kabul airport, intel alert for more ISIS attacks

Evacuation flights from Afghanistan resumed with new urgency on Friday, a day after two suicide bombings targeted the thousands of desperate people fleeing the Taliban takeover and killed more than 100. The U.S. warned more attacks could come ahead of the Tuesday deadline for foreign troops to leave, ending America’s longest war.

As the call to prayer echoed through Kabul along with the roar of departing planes, the anxious crowd outside the airport was as large as ever. 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.

2:07 pm | US flight carrying 400 evacuees arrives in Spain

A US military aircraft has flown around 400 people evacuated from Afghanistan to the navy base of Rota, in southern Spain — the first group of up to 4,000 people expected there. The flight landed at 9:40 am local time on Friday, a statement from the US embassy in Spain said. US officials, American and Spanish soldiers, Red Cross workers and base volunteers are in charge of processing the arrivals.

1:38 pm |  Kabul airport suicide attack death toll: At least 95 Afghans killed in Thursday's bombings

An official says at least 95 Afghans were killed in Thursday's suicide bombings outside Kabul's international airport. The official said the actual death toll is even higher because others were involved in evacuating bodies.

12:55 pm | Wasiq Ehsan, a 3rd-year student at Kabul University killed in Kabul airport bombing

12:45 pm | Spain to end evacuations from Kabul on Friday- AFP reports

12:05 pm | UK enters final stage of evacuation at Kabul airport

The UK has entered the final stage of its Afghanistan evacuation operation. The UK is closing its evacuation handling centre in Kabul and no more people will be called forward to the airport to leave, the Ministry of Defence says.

"It is with deep regret that not everyone has been able to be evacuated during this process," Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said.

11:36 am |  Evacuation resumes at Kabul airport with a new urgency

Evacuation flights from Afghanistan have resumed with new urgency a day after two suicide bombings targeted the thousands of desperate people fleeing the Taliban takeover. Kabul residents said several flights took off Friday morning.

11:08 am | Afghans face cash crunch with banks closed after Taliban takeover, reports AFP News Agenc

"I've been coming to the bank for four days now but I can't get my own money," one resident told the agency

10:35 am | ISIS-K chief is Shahab al Muhajir, who was Mid level Commander of Haqqani earlier.

ISIS-K was founded by former members of Pakistani Taliban, Afghan Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Over time, though, the group has poached terrorist from various other groups. The Kabul operatives of IS-K are more sophisticated and almost entirely drawn from the HQN.

10:14 am |  Kabul airport suicide attack: Death toll breaches 100-mark; At least 90 Afghans, 13 US troops killed so far, reports The Wall Street Journal.

9:49 am | US Navy CNO Gilday pays tribute to soldiers killed in Kabul airport attack

US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday on Thursday (local time) paid solemn tribute to 13 American troops who were killed in the Kabul airport terror attack. "Their courage and selflessness represent the highest ideals of America. We pay solemn tribute to their sacrifice. To the families and loved ones who grieve - you are not alone," tweeted Gilday.

9:27 am | Kamala Harris condemns Kabul terror attack

Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the Kabul terror attack in which 13 US service members were killed.

"Today in Kabul, a terror attack killed 13 American service members. These courageous service members died while saving countless lives. They are heroes. Doug and I grieve for the Americans we lost, we pray for the Americans injured in the attack, and our hearts go out to their loved ones. We also grieve for the Afghan 

8:59 am | US evacuated approx 7,500 people on Thursday before ISIS suicide attack

"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"

8:26 am |  Talibs denying links with ISIS is similar to denial of Pak on Quetta Shura:  Amrullah Saleh

8:01 am | 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.

"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.

 

7:44 am | Deepest condolences to the loved ones and teammates: US Defence Secretary

"I express my deepest condolences to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and wounded in Kabul today. We will not be dissuaded from the task at hand," US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin III 

7:29 am | This tragedy should have never been allowed to happen: Donald Trump on Kabul terror attack

7:14 am | "We will not forgive. We'll not forget: Biden on Kabul airport attack

“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.

6:55 am | IS says it targeted US troops in Kabul, Afghans

Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan has claimed responsibility for the attack outside the Kabul airport. The IS branch, known as The Islamic State-Khorasan Province after a name for the region from antiquity, said in its claim of responsibility that it targeted American troops and their Afghan allies.

6:29 am | 13 US service members killed, 18 injured in ISIS attack in Kabul

Thirteen US soldiers were killed and 18 others injured in the attack outside the Kabul airport carried out by ISIS in one of the worst terrorist strikes in Afghanistan in over a year

6:14 am |  ISIS-K claimed responsibility for Kabul airport attack

6:00 am | Kabul airport terror attack kills 60 Afghans, over 140 injured

Afghan officials in Kabul have said that at least 60 Afghans were killed and another 143 were wounded in a suicide attack outside Kabul airport.

ALSO READ: ​Taliban condemn twin blasts at Kabul airport killing over 40 amid evacuation chaos