Tragic Human Loss At Kabul Airport: Counting The Dead

On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked Kabul airport in Afghanistan, killing over 100 people and wounding many more. The attack was targeted at crowds of Afghans who were desperately trying to flee the country in the last few days of the American-led airlift before the U.S. officially ended its 20-year presence on 31 August.

The death toll of the Kabul airport attack was over 160

On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked Kabul airport in Afghanistan, killing over 160 people and wounding many more. The death toll included 13 US troops and at least 60 Afghans, with the number of Afghan deaths later confirmed to be 169. The attack was carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan (ISIS-K), who targeted crowds of Afghans flocking to the airport in a desperate attempt to flee the Taliban takeover.

The attack transformed a scene of desperation into one of horror, with bodies thrown into a nearby wastewater canal and those injured covered in blood. The injured were treated at local hospitals, with one hospital, Emergency, receiving at least 60 patients wounded in the attack. The US general overseeing the evacuation, Gen. Frank McKenzie, stated that the attacks would not stop the United States from evacuating Americans and others, and flights continued despite the attack.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, with the IS affiliate in Afghanistan considered far more radical than the Taliban. The Taliban condemned the attack and denied any involvement, with a spokesperson stating that the airport was under the control of US troops. The attack highlighted the dangers faced by those attempting to flee Afghanistan, with the United Nations refugee agency estimating that up to half a million people could flee the country in the coming months.

The Kabul airport attack was a tragic event that caused immense loss of life and highlighted the ongoing conflict and instability in Afghanistan. The death toll of over 160 people, including both US troops and Afghan civilians, emphasised the urgency of the situation and the need for a continued evacuation effort. Despite the risks, evacuation flights resumed the day after the attack, with a new sense of urgency as the deadline for foreign troops to leave approached.

13 US troops were killed

On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked Kabul airport in Afghanistan, killing 13 US troops and over 100 Afghan civilians. The attack was carried out by ISIS-K, the Islamic State's affiliate in Afghanistan, and targeted crowds of Afghans who were desperately trying to flee the country before the US withdrawal deadline of 31 August.

The US troops who lost their lives in the attack were:

• Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover
• Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo
• Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
• Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez
• Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page
• Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
• Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak
• Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss

The attack was one of the single deadliest incidents for American troops during the 20-year war in Afghanistan, and it came during the chaotic final days of the US evacuation. Thousands of people had gathered at the airport, hoping to board flights out of the country before the Taliban takeover.

The US military had been aware of a credible and imminent security threat at the airport and had warned people to leave the area. However, this advice went largely unheeded, and the attack transformed a scene of desperation into one of horror. The Taliban condemned the blasts and denied any involvement, while ISIS-K claimed responsibility.

The US President at the time, Joe Biden, addressed the nation from the White House, vowing to hunt down those responsible and make them pay. He also affirmed that the attack would not drive the US out of Afghanistan earlier than scheduled. The tragedy highlighted the dangers faced by US troops and contractors in Afghanistan and the complex security challenges posed by insider attacks.

60 Afghans were killed

On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers and gunmen targeted crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul airport, killing 60 Afghans and 13 US troops. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the killings on its Amaq news channel. The attack transformed a scene of desperation into one of horror in the final days of an airlift for those fleeing the Taliban takeover.

The first bomber struck people standing knee-deep in a wastewater canal, throwing bodies into the fetid water. Those who had hoped to get on flights out could be seen carrying the wounded to ambulances, their clothes darkened with blood.

Emergency, an Italian charity that operates hospitals in Afghanistan, said it had received at least 60 patients wounded in the attack, in addition to 10 who were dead on arrival. Marco Puntin, the charity's manager in Afghanistan, said: "Surgeons will be working into the night. The wounded overflowed the triage zone into the physiotherapy area and more beds were being added."

The US general overseeing the evacuation, Gen Frank McKenzie, said the attacks would not stop the evacuation of Americans and others, and flights out were continuing. About 5,000 people were awaiting flights on the airfield, he added.

The blasts came hours after Western officials warned of a major attack and urged people to leave the airport. However, this advice went largely unheeded by Afghans desperate to escape before the end of the American-led evacuation.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility

On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed at least 182 people, including 13 US service members and 169 Afghan civilians. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, which was carried out by a member called Abdul Rahman al-Logari, according to the group's official Amaq news agency. The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS–K) is an affiliate of militants who previously battled US forces in Syria and Iraq.

The attack highlighted the complex relationship between ISIS-K and the Taliban. While the Taliban condemned the attack and pledged to stop "evil circles", they had also been fighting against IS–KP previously and were helping US forces maintain security at the airport. In addition, ISIS-K views the Taliban as "apostates" and targets them in attacks.

The US and its allies had been warned of a credible threat of an attack at the airport by ISIS militants in the days leading up to the bombing. Despite this, thousands of desperate Afghans continued to flock to the airport, hoping to be evacuated. The attack transformed a scene of desperation into one of horror, with wounded Afghans lying on beds in hospitals and people tending to the injured at the site of the explosion.

US President Joe Biden, in an emotional speech from the White House, vowed to hunt down those responsible and make them pay. He said the US would not forgive or forget, and that the country's military commanders had developed plans to strike ISIS assets, leaders, and facilities. Biden also acknowledged the Taliban's efforts to prevent the attack, noting that the group had arrested an ISIS fighter at the airport and taken steps to prevent gatherings in public places.

The attack involved two suicide bombers and gunmen

On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked Kabul airport, killing over 100 people and injuring many more. The attack was targeted at crowds of Afghans who were desperately trying to flee the country in the final days of a US-led airlift before the US officially ended its 20-year presence in Afghanistan on 31 August.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, with the IS affiliate in Afghanistan believed to be behind the killings. The Taliban condemned the attack and denied any involvement, with a Taliban spokesman noting that the airport was controlled by US troops at the time. The US general overseeing the evacuation, Gen. Frank McKenzie, stated that the attacks would not stop the United States from evacuating Americans and others, and that flights out of the country would continue.

The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 60 Afghans and 13 US troops, with one source reporting the number of Afghans killed as over 185. The wounded included about 140 Afghans and 18 US service members, and the toll was expected to rise. The attack caused a reduction in the number of evacuees, with people heeding warnings of a potential attack and staying away from the airport.

The Kabul airport attack was a tragic incident that highlighted the dangers faced by those trying to flee Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover. It also served as a reminder of the ongoing threats posed by extremist groups such as the Islamic State and the potential for insider attacks by rogue members of the Afghan security forces.

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