Owais Crawford
On August 26, 2021, a suicide bombing attack at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport killed 13 US service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians. The attack came amid the 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan, as a crowd of local and foreign civilians fled to the airport to escape the Taliban takeover. The bombing was followed by gunfire, causing all gates to the airport to be closed. US officials identified ISIS-K gunmen as the perpetrators of the attack, which was also condemned by the UK, the European Commission, and the United Nations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 August 2021 |
| Location | Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Attackers | ISIS-K |
| Casualties | 13 US troops, 60 Afghan civilians |
| Warning | US diplomats and embassies, UK Armed Forces, Australia embassy, UK embassies |
| Target | Civilians fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover |
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What You'll Learn
- The Kabul airport attack of 2021 killed 60 Afghans and 13 US troops
- Two suicide bombers and gunmen targeted crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's airport
- ISIS-K gunmen opened fire into the crowd after the explosion
- The attack took place after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan
- The US launched an airstrike against ISIS-K members in Nangarhar Province
The Kabul airport attack of 2021 killed 60 Afghans and 13 US troops
On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers and gunmen targeted crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. The attack killed 60 Afghans and 13 US troops and injured many others. It occurred during the waning days of a massive airlift that drew thousands of people seeking to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban on 15 August 2021, the airport was the only way out of Afghanistan. Security concerns grew after hundreds of members of the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) escaped from jails at Bagram and Pul-e-Charkhi. The Pentagon warned the US Congress about the increased threat of a terrorist attack by ISIS following the fall of Kabul. Embassies of the US, UK, and Australia also warned about high-security threats involving the airport.
At Abbey Gate, one of the airport's entrances, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt. After the explosion, gunfire erupted, and all gates to the airport were closed. US officials said ISIS-K gunmen opened fire into the crowd, and US troops returned fire. Several reporters and eyewitnesses attributed at least some of the gunfire into the crowd and consequent deaths after the explosion to panic by US troops.
US President Biden made a public address following the attack, honouring the US service members who were killed and expressing deep sorrow for the Afghan victims. Biden also warned those who wished harm upon the US that "we will hunt you down and make you pay". The attack was condemned by many nations, the European Commission, and the United Nations.
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Two suicide bombers and gunmen targeted crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's airport
On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers and gunmen targeted crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. The attack occurred during the final days of a mass airlift that saw thousands of people attempting to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The Taliban's fall of Kabul on 15 August had made the airport the only route out of the country.
The attack was carried out by ISIS-K, an affiliate of the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the attack. ISIS-K had previously threatened an attack, and security concerns had grown after hundreds of members of the Islamic State – Khorasan Province escaped from jails at Bagram and Pul-e-Charkhi. U.S. diplomats and embassies, as well as those of the United Kingdom and Australia, had warned of high security threats involving the airport.
The attack resulted in a devastating scene, with wounded Afghans lying on beds at a hospital and onlookers surrounding the site of the explosion. The attack killed approximately 60 Afghans and 13 US troops, although some sources state 12 US troops were killed. U.S. President Biden addressed the public following the attack, honouring the US service members who were killed and expressing sorrow for the Afghan victims. He vowed to "hunt down" those responsible for the attack.
The attack was widely condemned, with the United Kingdom, the European Commission, and the United Nations expressing solidarity with the victims and troops conducting evacuations. The father of a US Marine killed in the attack interrupted the 2024 State of the Union Address to heckle, leading to his arrest. In response to the attack, the US military launched an airstrike against a vehicle carrying three ISIS-K members in Nangarhar Province, killing two and injuring one.
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ISIS-K gunmen opened fire into the crowd after the explosion
On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers and ISIS-K gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. The attack transformed a scene of desperation into one of horror in the waning days of an airlift for those fleeing the Taliban takeover.
The attack occurred during the 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan, when a crowd of local and foreign civilians fled to the airport to be evacuated. At Abbey Gate, one of the airport gates, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt. After the explosion, gunfire erupted, and all gates to the airport were closed.
US officials confirmed that ISIS-K gunmen opened fire into the crowd after the explosion, and US troops returned fire. Eyewitnesses, including US military personnel and an Afghan doctor, corroborated that the gunfire was extensive and resulted in multiple injuries. This claim is supported by video footage from a Marine's GoPro camera, which showed 11 instances of gunfire over four minutes.
The Pentagon acknowledged the possibility of US responsibility for some deaths in a news conference on 28 August. The investigation by the United States military concluded that a supposed secondary explosion they believed to be evidence of explosives might have been due to a propane or gas tank.
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The attack took place after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan
On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing attack took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The attack killed 13 US service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians. The attack occurred during the 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan, as a crowd of local and foreign civilians fled to the airport to be evacuated.
The Taliban rapidly regained control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops in August 2021. Despite initial promises to respect human rights, the Taliban reimposed its strict interpretation of Sharia law, including public executions, amputations, and flogging. The fall of Kabul to the Taliban on 15 August 2021 left Hamid Karzai International Airport as the only way out of Afghanistan. Security concerns grew, and the Pentagon warned the US Congress about the increased threat of a terrorist attack by ISIS.
Embassies of the US, UK, and Australia warned of high-security threats involving the airport. Hours before the attack, US diplomats in Kabul warned American citizens to leave the airport due to security threats. ISIS-K gunmen opened fire into the crowd after the explosion, and US troops returned fire. The attack was condemned by many nations, the European Commission, and the United Nations.
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The US launched an airstrike against ISIS-K members in Nangarhar Province
On August 26, 2021, two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. This was amid the 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan, which saw a crowd of local and foreign civilians flee to the airport to be evacuated. The attack killed 60 Afghans and 13 US troops.
Following the attack, US President Biden made a public address, honouring the US service members who were killed and expressing sorrow for the Afghan victims. He also warned those who wished harm upon the US, stating, "We will hunt you down and make you pay."
On August 27, 2021, the United States launched an airstrike against three suspected ISIS-K members in Nangarhar Province. Two were killed, and the third occupant of the vehicle was injured. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby described the two killed as "high-profile ISIS targets" and "planners and facilitators". A US defence official stated that one of the targets was "associated with potential future attacks at the airport".
CENTCOM identified one of the targets on September 23 as Kabir Aidi (alias "Mustafa"), confirming his involvement in planning attacks and making magnetic IEDs. This airstrike was part of the US's efforts to counter the threat posed by ISIS-K, which had increased following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.
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Frequently asked questions
ISIS-K gunmen and suicide bombers.
The attack killed 60 Afghans and 13 US troops.
The attack was carried out to target the thousands of people seeking to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
