Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III briefs the press from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Washington, D.C., Feb. 19, 2021. (DoD Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders).
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
WASHINGTON DC – The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that 12 U.S. service members were killed in a suicide bombing attack at Kabul airport. The attacks involved an explosive set off by a suicide bomber near the Abbey Gate entrance to Hamid Karzai International Airport Thursday morning. Despite the tragic loss of life, the mission to evacuate American citizens and vulnerable Afghan civilians from Afghanistan will continue undeterred, Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command, said during a briefing today at the Pentagon.
“Let me be clear: while we’re saddened by the loss of life, both U.S. and Afghan [citizens], we’re continuing to execute the mission.”
-Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command
Islamic State reportedly claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, according to sources. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin echoed Gen. McKenzie’s sentiments regarding the attacks:
“On behalf of the men and women of the Department of Defense, I express my deepest condolences to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and wounded in Kabul today. Terrorists took their lives at the very moment these troops were trying to save the lives of others. We mourn their loss. We will treat their wounds. And we will support their families in what will most assuredly be devastating grief. But we will not be dissuaded from the task at hand. To do anything less — especially now — would dishonor the purpose and sacrifice these men and women have rendered our country and the people of Afghanistan.”
-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin
1,000 American Civilians Remain in Afghanistan now – Pentagon
The U.S. mission is to evacuate from Afghanistan American citizens, third-country nationals, special immigrant visa holders, U.S. embassy staff, and at-risk Afghans. Currently, there are now some 5,000 individuals awaiting evacuation from the country, McKenzie said.
Since Aug. 14, more than 104,000 civilians have been evacuated — including about 5,000 Americans, according to McKenzie. He added that he believes there are a little over 1,000 American civilians left in the country.
“We’re doing everything we can, in concert with our Department of State partners, to reach out to them and to help them leave, if they want to leave. And remember, not everybody wants to leave,” McKenzie said.
The Taliban is now doing security outside Kabul Airport
McKenzie said the U.S. military is working the Taliban to can help mitigate some of the threats. “We’ve been clear all along that we’re going to retain the right to operate against ISIS in Afghanistan, and we are working very hard right now to determine attribution to determine who is associated with this cowardly attack, and we’re prepared to take action against them. 24/7, we are looking for them.”
