Explosion outside Kabul airport: Pentagon
August 26, 2021 | 09:59AM ETBank
As the Biden Administration scrambles to get U.S. citizens out of Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover over the country, an explosion has been reported at the Kabul International Airport.
President Joe Biden has been briefed in the White House Situation Room, according to CNN, and the attack appears to be a suicide bombing:
President Biden is in the Situation Room for a scheduled meeting on Afghanistan with his top national security officials. We're told he has been briefed on explosion at the Kabul airport. Secretary Austin, Gen. Milley and Sec. Blinken all seen arriving earlier this hourpic.twitter.com/iUiGZsrR1w— Kevin Liptak (@Kevin Liptak) 1629985908
NEW: Suicide bomber \u201ccomplex SBIED attack\u201d with firefight at Abbey Gate outside Kabul airport; Afghan casualties: US official— Jennifer Griffin (@Jennifer Griffin) 1629985626
Politico's Daniel Lippman tweeted:
JUST IN: Sources tell @laraseligman, @alexbward and me that there has been a large explosion at Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport.— Daniel Lippman (@Daniel Lippman) 1629985184
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed:
We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can.— John Kirby (@John Kirby) 1629985491
The BBC's Suzanne Kianpour reports "casualties":
Am told IED casualties at Kabul Airport, Abbey Gate. #Afghanistan— Suzanne Kianpour (@Suzanne Kianpour) 1629985762
Watch additional coverage below, via CNN:
Breaking news -- explosion at Hamid Karzai International Airportwww.youtube.com
