Explosions outside Kabul airport claim casualties

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - AUGUST 26: Injured people being carried to a hospital as unspecified number of casualties reported after two explosions outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. Two explosions took place outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in the Afghan capital Kabul on Thursday, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry, with an unspecified number of casualties reported by the US Pentagon. "There were two explosions outside of Kabul Airport. There is no damage or casualties in our units," the ministry said on Twitter. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said on Twitter: “We can confirm that the explosion at the Abbey Gate was the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of US & civilian casualties. We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate. We will continue to update.” In a separate statement on Twitter, Kirby also confirmed that "a number" of US troops had been killed in the attack, with "a number of others" being treated for wounds. "We also know that a number of Afghans fell victim to this heinous attack," he added. At least 25 people were killed and 90 injured, said news channel Al-Jazeera, citing the Taliban, which earlier this month gained control of Kabul and most of Afghanistan but not the airport. Meanwhile, US media outlets cited officials in reporting that four American troops were killed and three others injured. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the explosions were the result of a suicide attack and that at least three US soldiers were among the injured. (Footage by Sayed Khodaiberdi Sadat/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)