Two explosions have taken place outside Kabul airport as thousands of Afghans try to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control earlier this month.
According to Independent, at least 13 people have been reported dead after the attack on Thursday, August 26, with the fatalities including children. It has also been reported that a number of Taliban guards were injured in the blasts.
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby confirmed the initial blast outside the airport, writing on Twitter: "We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can."
The explosion occurred at one of the entry gates at Hamid Karzai International Airport and is believed to have been a suicide attack, CNN reports. The second blast took place minutes after the first explosion.
A US official told Reuters there were injuries as a result of the explosion but said it was not yet known how many people were wounded. It is believed that around three US service members had been hurt, the official added.
The news outlet reports that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the explosion after it happened. He was in a meeting with security officials concerning the crisis in Afghanistan, where the US military is preparing to leave after 20 years.
The Taliban had promised not to attack the foreign forces aiding the evacuation but stated the troops must leave the country by their initial deadline of Tuesday, August 31.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid has said the US had been told about a potential ISIS attack on the airport.
He said, per The Guardian: "The Taliban are committed to the international community and will not allow terrorists to use Afghanistan as a base for their operations. The Taliban have warned US troops about possible terrorist groups such as ISIS."
Per Reuters, in a warning on Wednesday, August 25, the US Embassy in Kabul had advised people in the country to avoid making their way to the airport and said those already there should leave as soon as they can, citing "security threats."
However, despite the alert, a Western diplomat in Kabul told how the surrounding areas of the airport gates had been "incredibly crowded".
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