12 US soldiers were killed and 15 wounded in two suicide attacks carried out by ISIS militants
US Central Command chief Kenneth McKenzie said 12 US soldiers were killed and 15 wounded in two suicide attacks carried out by Islamic State militants in Kabul on Thursday.
"A number of Afghan civilians were killed and wounded in the attack," McKenzie told a news conference.
And Reuters news agency said earlier that the number of American soldiers who are believed to have been killed in the Kabul bombings, Thursday, has risen to 12, according to US officials.
The agency stated that US officials indicated that this information is preliminary and could change at any time.
Earlier, a US official told Reuters that at least 10 US military personnel were killed in the attacks, which took place at one of the gates of Kabul Airport, where the United States is conducting massive evacuations.
In turn, the Associated Press quoted US officials as saying that 11 Marines and a Navy medic were killed in the Kabul attack.
The Pentagon had announced earlier that a number of US military service members were killed and others wounded in the "double" attack that took place near Kabul airport, without revealing further details about the number of casualties.
According to military sources, one of the explosions occurred near the Aby Gate, one of three airport access points crowded with thousands of Afghans hoping to be evacuated to escape the Taliban regime, according to AFP.
"It was a huge explosion among a crowd waiting in front of one of the airport gates," an eyewitness told AFP, as evacuees from Westerners entered.
Another witness told AFP, "When the people heard the explosion, they panicked. Then the Taliban fired in the air to disperse the people who were waiting in front of the door, and he saw 'a man running carrying an injured child.'"
Western countries have warned of a possible attack on Kabul airport in recent days from the massive evacuation efforts.
Several countries urged people to avoid the airport, where an official said there was a threat of a suicide bombing.
A US official told the Associated Press that the double attack outside Kabul airport was "certainly believed" to be the work of the Islamic State (ISIS).
Security analysts indicated earlier on Thursday that the activity of ISIS-K had abruptly stopped for 12 days, a possible indication that it was preparing for a large-scale operation, via mortar shells or suicide attacks with cars or individuals.
However, those warnings before the explosions did not deter many Afghans from continuing to flock to the airport in the hope of boarding a flight to the West.
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