But the decision to provide specific names to the Taliban, which has a history of brutally murdering Afghans who collaborated with the U.S. and other coalition forces during the conflict, has angered lawmakers and military officials.
Two explosions hit Kabul’s airport on Thursday. Fox News’s Jen Griffin confirmed the terrorist attack killed at least 12 soldiers.
Top points:
Jen Griffin just confirmed the terrorist attack killed in the terrorist attack.
Fox News’s Jen Griffin confirmed the terrorist attack killed four U.S. Marines and injured three others.
This is great news.
Here is a video of people helping the wounded to Kabul’s emergency hospital.
The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan told U.S. citizens not to travel to the airport and stay away from airport gates:
The US Embassy in Kabul just sent an alert saying, “US citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately” in the wake of a blast at the Hamid Karzai International Airport Thursday.“There has been a large explosion at the airport, and there are reports of gunfire,” the security alert said.“U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid airport gates at this time,” it added.
Fox News reported U.S. officials confirmed the explosion by Abbey Gate injured three Marines. An Afghan man said a baby girl died in his arms.
Sky News published this picture of the airport.
The Associated Press spoke to witnesses:
An Afghan man says he saw several people who appeared to be killed or wounded in an explosion among crowds waiting outside one of the gates to Kabul airport.Adam Khan says some people appeared to be missing body parts. He says he was about 30 meters (yards) from Thursday’s blast.The explosion occurred as Western nations are struggling to evacuate people following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Here are some updates we’re seeing on Twitter. This is a fast-moving story.
From Politico:
U.S. officials in Kabul gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, green card holders and Afghan allies to grant entry into the militant-controlled outer perimeter of the city’s airport, a choice that’s prompted outrage behind the scenes from lawmakers and military officials.
The move, detailed to POLITICO by three U.S. and congressional officials, was designed to expedite the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan as chaos erupted in Afghanistan’s capital city last week after the Taliban seized control of the country. It also came as the Biden administration has been relying on the Taliban for security outside the airport.
But the decision to provide specific names to the Taliban, which has a history of brutally murdering Afghans who collaborated with the U.S. and other coalition forces during the conflict, has angered lawmakers and military officials.
“Basically, they just put all those Afghans on a kill list,” said one defense official, who like others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. “It’s just appalling and shocking and makes you feel unclean.”
A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command declined to comment.
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