Biden Vows Retaliation For Kabul Bombing As Allies Warn Of More Terrorist Attacks
It was a somber Thursday night at the White House as President Joe Biden addressed the Kabul airport bombings, vowing to finish the Afghanistian evacuation and avenge the lives of the U.S. service members killed in the attack.
Responsibility for the bombing, which killed 13 U.S. troops and at least 60 Afghan civilians, was claimed by an Afghanistan-based affiliate of the terror group called ISIS-K.
“We will hunt you down and make you pay,” Biden said in his speech.
But the attacks may be far from over. As evacuations from Kabul resume, the U.S. and its allies warn that more terrorist attacks are likely to happen as the Aug. 31 deadline to exit Afghanistan nears.
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, Jr. said Friday that the threat of continued attacks before the conclusion of the evacuation has increased.
“The threat is obviously going to grow the closer we get to leaving,” he told Sky News. “The narrative is always going to be, as we leave, certain groups such as ISIS will want to stake a claim that they have driven out the U.S. or the U.K.”
Both the British and Australian governments also warned of a “high threat” of a “terrorist” attack late on Thursday.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that there is “ongoing and very high threat of terrorist attack” and advised people in Afghanistan to avoid traveling to the airport.
The British foreign office followed suit with similar advice. In their statement they said that “there is an ongoing and high threat of terrorist attack,” adding that “if you can leave Afghanistan safely by other means, you should do so immediately”.
These warnings came after evacuations efforts from Kabul had resumed. Now people in Afghanistan are scrambling to get to the airports as the collision of terror attacks, evacuation efforts, and a tightening Taliban grip threatens their livelihood.
About 12,500 were flown out in the 24-hour period ending at 3 a.m. ET Friday. Coalition forces have evacuated about 105,000 people over the past two weeks and about 110,600 total since the end of July, CNBC reported.
Despite these horrific developing incidents and pressure from the world’s wealthiest nations, Biden holds firm on his decision to not extend the evacuation deadline.
“We will not be deterred by terrorists. We will not let them stop our mission. We will continue the evacuation,” Biden said on Thursday.
Biden ended his speech by bowing his head during his requested moment of silence honoring the service members in Afghanistan. He ordered U.S. flags to half-staff across the country as a mark of respect for those who died.
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