Senators Ben Cardin & Chris Van Hollen Release Statement Following Terrorist Attack In Kabul

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August 26, 2021 astatine 7:35 pm

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP/WJZ) — Two termination bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul’s airdrome Thursday, transforming a country of desperation into 1 of fearfulness successful the waning days of an airlift for those fleeing the Taliban takeover. The attacks killed astatine slightest 60 Afghans and 13 U.S. troops, Afghan and U.S. officials said.

The U.S. wide overseeing the evacuation said the attacks would not halt the United States from evacuating Americans and others, and flights retired were continuing. Gen. Frank McKenzie, caput of U.S. Central Command, said determination was a ample magnitude of information astatine the airport, and alternate routes were being utilized to get evacuees in. About 5,000 radical were awaiting flights connected the airfield, McKenzie said.

The blasts came hours aft Western officials warned of a large attack, urging radical to permission the airport. But that proposal went mostly unheeded by Afghans hopeless to flight the state successful the past fewer days of an American-led evacuation earlier the U.S. officially ends its 20-year beingness connected Aug. 31.

The Islamic State radical claimed work for the killings connected its Amaq quality channel. The IS affiliate successful Afghanistan is acold much extremist than the Taliban, who precocious took power of the state successful a lightning blitz. The Taliban were not believed to person been progressive successful the attacks and condemned the blasts.

In an affectional code from the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden said the latest bloodshed would not thrust the U.S. retired of Afghanistan earlier than scheduled, and that helium had instructed the U.S. subject to make plans to onslaught IS.

“We volition not forgive. We volition not forget. We volition hunt you down and marque you pay,” Biden said.

U.S. officials initially said 11 Marines and 1 Navy medic were among those who died. Another work subordinate died hours later. Eighteen work members were wounded and officials warned the toll could grow. More than 140 Afghans were wounded, an Afghan authoritative said.

Maryland U.S. Senator Ben Cardin released a connection pursuing the violent attack:

“Today is simply a hard day. A heinous violent onslaught extracurricular of Kabul airdrome near dozens of guiltless civilians killed and injured. Amongst them were 12 American work members killed and 15 wounded arsenic they were processing U.S. citizens and Afghan allies done the airport.

“I explicit my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of our work members and the Afghan civilians harmed by this attack. This onslaught is simply a achy reminder of the information that our brave troops and our diplomats look successful helping thousands of American citizens and allies escape. As a nation, we are indebted to their selflessness, courage, and compassion.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen besides released a statement:

“My thoughts are with the loved ones of the U.S. work members killed contiguous successful Kabul arsenic they sacrificed their ain lives to prevention others – arsenic good arsenic with the families of the guiltless Afghan civilians who mislaid their lives. The U.S. cannot and volition not beryllium soundless successful the look of these attacks – we indispensable bring to justness the terrorists who committed these heinous acts arsenic we enactment to extract others from harm’s way.

“I americium intimately tracking the events successful Kabul. We indispensable enactment to found stableness connected the crushed and stay focused connected securing the information of U.S. citizens, our troops, and our Afghan partners. I’m grateful to each who are contributing to this mission, and I volition proceed to bash everything successful my powerfulness to enactment them.”

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