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On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed 13 US service members and around 170 Afghan civilians. The attack was carried out by two suicide bombers and gunmen who targeted crowds of Afghans attempting to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The US carried out a drone strike in the days following the attack, which resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians, including seven children. The Taliban killed the leader of the ISIS-K cell responsible for the attack in 2023.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 August 2021 |
| Location | Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul |
| Attackers | Two suicide bombers and gunmen |
| Target | Crowds of Afghans trying to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan |
| Killed | 13 U.S. service members, 170 Afghan civilians |
| Injured | Several |
| Perpetrator | Islamic State group |
| Suspects killed | Kabir Aidi (alias "Mustafa"), ISIS-K leader Sanaullah Ghafari |
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What You'll Learn
13 US soldiers and 170 civilians were killed
On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing attack at Kabul airport killed 13 US soldiers and approximately 170 Afghan civilians. The attack took place during the evacuation from Afghanistan, as thousands of people sought to flee the Taliban takeover of the country. The Taliban had taken control of Kabul on 15 August, and Hamid Karzai International Airport was the only way out of Afghanistan.
The bombing was carried out by two suicide bombers and gunmen who targeted crowds of Afghans massing near the airport. The attackers were members of ISIS-K, the Afghanistan branch of the Islamic State group. The US had received warnings of a possible attack by ISIS-K in the week preceding the bombing, and President Biden had warned that the longer US troops remained in the country, the greater the threat to American personnel and civilians near the airport.
In the aftermath of the attack, US President Biden honoured the US service members who were killed, calling them "heroes" and expressing sorrow for the Afghan victims. The 13 US soldiers were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The US carried out a drone strike in retaliation for the attack, which reportedly killed 10 civilians, including seven children.
In 2023, the leader of the ISIS-K cell that organised the attack was believed to have been killed by Taliban security forces. The US confirmed that intelligence gathering and monitoring of the region indicated that the leader had died, though his name was not released.
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The Taliban killed the IS leader behind the attack
The 2021 Kabul airport attack was a devastating incident that claimed the lives of 13 US service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians. The attack was carried out by two suicide bombers and gunmen who targeted crowds of Afghans attempting to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The Taliban, who had recently regained control of the country, had been conducting a series of aggressive attacks across Afghanistan, with suicide bombings and complex attacks increasing significantly.
In the aftermath of the airport attack, US officials confirmed that the ISIS-K leader responsible for planning the assault had been killed by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan in early April 2023. Although the individual's name was not released, they were described as the "mastermind" of the attack on Abbey Gate, a crucial exit point for those evacuating during the US withdrawal.
The Taliban operation that led to the ISIS-K leader's death was part of a series of military actions against the terrorist group. While the US was not directly involved in the operation that killed the ISIS-K leader, they had previously conducted strikes against ISIS-K members, including high-profile figures associated with planning attacks and distributing explosives.
The death of the ISIS-K leader came as US President Joe Biden launched his 2024 re-election campaign. Biden had previously vowed to end the war in Afghanistan and restore competence to US foreign affairs. However, the chaotic withdrawal and the deadly airport attack had drawn widespread criticism.
The Kabul airport attack and the subsequent death of the ISIS-K leader underscore the complex and volatile nature of the situation in Afghanistan. While the Taliban's killing of the ISIS-K leader responsible for the attack may have brought a sense of justice for the families of the victims, it also highlights the ongoing security concerns and the continued presence of extremist groups in the region.
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US drone strike kills 10 civilians, including 7 children
On 29 August 2021, a US drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, killed 10 civilians, including seven children. The strike targeted a vehicle a few kilometres from Kabul Airport. According to US officials, there were a number of explosions following the drone strike, indicating the presence of explosives at the scene. However, this account was disputed by the victims' relatives, who stated that no subsequent explosions occurred and that the driver of the vehicle had no connection to any extremist group. Some of those killed in the strike had worked for international organisations and held visas allowing them entry into the US.
This incident occurred against the backdrop of the fall of Kabul to the Taliban on 15 August 2021. In the aftermath, Hamid Karzai International Airport served as the sole point of exit from Afghanistan. The Pentagon warned of an increased threat of terrorist attacks by ISIS, and US President Joe Biden acknowledged the heightened risk faced by American personnel and civilians near the airport.
The US drone strike in Kabul exemplifies the contentious nature of drone warfare. Proponents argue that drone strikes are effective in targeting specific combatants and reducing civilian casualties when compared to other military tactics. However, critics highlight the significant number of civilian casualties caused by drone strikes, underscoring the discrepancy between the US government's estimates of civilian deaths and those recorded by independent organisations.
The use of drones for targeted killings has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who challenge the notion that drone strikes are "surgical and precise" in nature. The Obama administration, for instance, conducted 563 strikes in Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, resulting in a reported range of 384 to 807 civilian deaths. Additionally, a 2010 strike in Yemen intended for al Qaeda instead killed 55 members of a tribe, including 21 children and 12 women, five of whom were pregnant.
While drone strikes may serve a strategic purpose, the civilian toll underscores the need for cautious and ethical employment of such tactics. The strike in Kabul, which resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians, highlights the devastating consequences when such operations go awry.
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US President Biden addresses the attack and loss of lives
On 26 August 2021, two suicide bombers and gunmen targeted crowds of Afghans at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, which was the only way out of Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. The attack killed 13 US service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians.
US President Joe Biden made a public address following the attack. He honoured the US service members who were killed, calling them heroes and saying they lost their lives "in the service of liberty". He also expressed deep sorrow for the Afghan victims and said that the US would "hunt down and make [the terrorists] pay". Biden also rescheduled a meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett because of the attack.
On the first anniversary of the attack, Biden released another statement. He listed the names of the 13 Americans killed and said, "Our nation will forever mourn their sacrifice and honour the memory of those 13 precious souls, stolen from their families, loved ones, brothers- and sisters-in-arms far too soon while performing a noble mission on behalf of our Nation". He also stated that the US would continue to prevent terrorist attacks and "deliver justice to terrorists who plot against America".
On the second anniversary of the attack, Biden released another statement. He said, "Today, I am praying for the families of those 13 fallen warriors, who lost a piece of their soul two years ago. Our nation can never repay such incredible sacrifice—but we will never fail to honour our sacred obligation to the families and survivors they left behind". He also mentioned the 2,461 American troops who had been killed and the 20,744 who had been wounded in the war in Afghanistan.
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Condemnation of the attack and solidarity with victims
The 2021 Kabul airport attack, which killed 13 US troops and 170 Afghan civilians, sparked widespread condemnation and expressions of solidarity from various nations and organisations. The attack was perpetrated by two suicide bombers and gunmen who targeted crowds of Afghans attempting to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
US President Biden addressed the nation following the attack, honouring the fallen US service members and expressing sorrow for the Afghan victims. Biden vowed to bring those responsible to justice, stating, "we will hunt you down and make you pay." The US Congress honoured the 13 service members with the Congressional Gold Medal, recognising their sacrifice and service.
The United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to Operation Pitting, the evacuation effort from Afghanistan. German Chancellor Angela Merkel cancelled a planned trip to focus on monitoring the evacuation of German troops. The European Commission and the United Nations also condemned the attack.
In the aftermath of the attack, the US offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible or the capture of ISIS-K leader Sanaullah Ghafari. The US conducted drone strikes targeting ISIS-K members and planners, but one such strike tragically killed 10 civilians, including seven children.
The Taliban claimed to have killed the mastermind behind the Kabul airport bombing in 2023, an ISIS leader whose name has not been released. This individual was reportedly responsible for planning the attack that resulted in the tragic loss of life and the disruption of evacuation efforts.
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Frequently asked questions
The 2021 Kabul airport attack killed 60 Afghans and 13 US troops.
The victims included civilians, US service members, and Taliban security forces.
The civilians who died were Afghan.
The attack involved two suicide bombers and gunmen who targeted crowds of Afghans seeking to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Yes, in 2023, the leader of the ISIS–K cell that organized the attack was believed to have been killed by Taliban security forces.
