As it happened: Islamic State suicide bombers kill more than 60 people at Kabul airport

Joe Biden warns Kabul bombers, vows to avenge deaths of US soldiers

The United States President Joe Biden paid tribute to US soldiers who lost their lives in suicide bomb blasts at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan on Thursday (August 26) and hailed them as "selfless heroes". 

"For those who carried out this attack as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said in an address at the White House on Thursday. 

"I've also ordered my commanders to develop operational plans to strike ISIS-K assets, leadership and facilities." 

"We will respond with force and precision at the place we choose and a moment of our choosing," Biden added further affirming that the August 31 deadline for all US troops to leave Afghanistan and added that the US forces will evacuate as many people as possible before that date.

"We will not be deterred by terrorists. We will not let them stop our mission. We will continue the evacuation," Biden said. 

"We'll rescue the American citizens from Afghanistan. We'll get our Afghan allies out and our mission will go on," he added. 

"Knowing the threat, knowing that we may very well have another attack, the military has concluded that that's what we should do. I think they are right," The US President added. 

The US Defense Department said that the number of American troops killed in the suicide bomb blasts at Kabul airport rose by one to 13 as earlier, there were reports that 12 US soldiers have lost their lives. 

"A thirteenth US service member has died from his wounds suffered as a result of the attack on Abbey Gate," Central Command spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement. 

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly bomb blasts at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan on Thursday (August 26) as reported by AFP. The suicide attacks killed more than 60 people including, 13 US soldiers as told by Afghan and US officials. 

Pentagon briefing after Kabul blasts: Highlights

Twelve US servicemen were killed and 15 injured in two suicide bombing attacks in Kabul on Thursday by Islamic State militants, the head of US Central Command said.

Attack on Kabul airport was two suicide bombers from Islamic State: US general

US expects Islamic State will attempt more attacks in Kabul: Pentagon general

US determined to retaliate against IS for Kabul attack.

The US airlift in Kabul will continue despite the Islamic State attacks on the airport on Thursday which killed 12 US troops, the head of US Central Command said.

Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul airport attack: Reuters

Islamic State have claimed responsibility for the Kabul airport attacks on the group’s Telegram account, Reuters are reporting.

McKenzie has just confirmed that the attacks are believed to have been carried out by an affiliate of the Islamic State in Afghanistan known as the Islamic State Khorasan Province, or ISKP.

He also stated that approximately 1,000 US citizens are still believed to be in Afghanistan. 

Also read: At least 12 US troops killed in Kabul airport attack, sources say

At least 12 US troops were killed and three others wounded in Thursday's explosions at Kabul airport, U.S. sources told Reuters, in what the Pentagon said was a "complex attack" during its evacuation mission from Afghanistan.

In a statement, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed multiple U.S. fatalities but did not give details. The U.S. servicemembers were among those killed when at least two blasts tore through crowds thronging the airport gates.

Kabul serial bomb blasts killed 60 and injured 140: BBC

A senior health official has told the BBC that at least 60 people were killed and 140 more were injured in the Kabul airport blasts.

JUST IN | Third explosion reported near Kabul airport, intermittent gunfire can be heard.

Pentagon: 'Number of US service members were killed in today’s complex attack at Kabul airport'

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby says the U.S. "can confirm that a number of U.S. service members were killed in today’s complex attack at Kabul airport.

"A number of others are being treated for wounds," he added. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and injured.”
 

WATCH: ISIS bomber carried out attack

How world leaders are reacting to the Kabul, Afghanistan explosions

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cancelled an upcoming trip to Israel, where she was expected to join Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for a cabinet meeting on Sunday. The trip was cancelled due to "the tense situation in Afghanistan," according to a government spokesperson. 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, meanwhile, is set to chair an emergency security meeting with the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR) after he was updated on the explosions, Reuters reported.
 

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid Tweets

ISIS- Khorasan: What you should know

More than a week after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, a deadly blast outside the Kabul Airport has brought back horrifying memories for the country.

There was no indication from the White House on Thursday that Joe Biden plans to change the 31 August US withdrawal target as a result of twin explosions at the Kabul airport, a source familiar with the situation has told Reuters.

WATCH: Chaotic scenes in airport, hospital after Kabul airport terror attack

Kabul airport terror attack created chaos at the airport already thronged by hundreds of people wanting to escape the country. The blast claimed at least 13 lives. The blast took place at the Abbey gate of Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Emergency hospital in Kabul says around 60 wounded have arrived so far from airport explosions.

The Abbey Gate, a British-controlled gateway to the airport that was only accessible through Taliban checkpoints. 

What purpose do the target sites near the Baron hotel serve?

• The United States and its allies had warned that such assaults were likely to occur.
• The hotel was primarily utilised by British officials as a processing centre for Afghans wishing to be evacuated from the nation in order to flee the Taliban.
• Camp Sullivan, a self-contained base for the local guard force that provides protection to all official US sites in the capital city, is also close to the 160-room hotel. 
• According to the hotel's website, the facility is "one of the most prestigious secured lodging projects in Kabul," with security provided by a private US business, a four-metre-high perimeter wall, and five guard towers.
• It also says it's near to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which means it's "inside the security buffer zone for both of these sites."

NATO chief says Kabul evacuation remains priority

A US official has told Reuters as many as five American troops may have been injured, citing initial information.

Macron warns next hours will be 'extremely risky' in Kabul, airport

Nobody expected such a rapid and brutal situation in Kabul. President Biden confirmed to us during the G7 that he will leave the military airport and stop its operations with Afghanistan.

I think de facto all of us are put in a position where we cannot protect all the Afghan people we wanted to protect.

Now it is our responsibility to build additional solutions to protect them during the coming weeks and months.

Watch for the live updates: 

A second explosion took place at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby confirms.

In Pics | At least 13 killed in blast outside Kabul airport

A suspected suicide bomb exploded outside Kabul airport, killing at least 13 people including children, a Taliban official said, after the United States and allies urged Afghans to leave the area because of a threat by Islamic State.