Afghanistan: Death toll in ISIS-led Kabul attacks reaches 103

The Wall Street Journal reported that at least 103 people – 90 Afghan civilians and 13 US servicemen – have been killed in the attacks.

As many as 1,338 people have been injured by the terrorist attacks, a source in the Afghan Ministry of Health told Sputnik Friday.

At least four blasts targeted Kabul airport and its outskirts. The Islamic State-Khorasan terrorist group reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks which occurred Thursday evening.

Thousands of people have been gathering outside the Kabul airport in recent days with western troops racing to evacuate foreigners and Afghans from the war-torn country by an Aug 31 deadline, set by US President Joe Biden.

Reactions

In a strong reaction to the blasts, Biden, who is severely criticised for his handling of the Afghanistan situation, said, "To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive.  We will not forget.  We will hunt you down and make you pay."

"Over the past few weeks — I know you’re — many of you are probably tired of hearing me say it — we’ve been made aware by our intelligence community that the ISIS-K — an arch-enemy of the Taliban; people who were freed when both those prisons were opened — has been planning a complex set of attacks on the United States personnel and others," the President added.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "I utterly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack in Kabul in which Afghans and members of the US military lost their lives. The threat of terrorist attack is one of the constraints we’ve been operating under, but our evacuation effort continues with over 12,000 extracted so far."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, " I strongly condemn the terror attacks that took place earlier today near the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

"These heinous attacks took the lives of many innocent people desperately seeking to leave the country and those supporting evacuation efforts, including U.S. service members and medical personnel. As one of its closest allies, Canada joins with the United States as they mourn their fallen..."

Strongly condemning the attacks, the Indian government said, "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this terrorist attack. Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the injured. Today’s attacks reinforce the need for the world to stand unitedly against terrorism and all those who provide sanctuaries to terrorists."

On Aug 15, the Taliban entered Kabul, prompting the US-supported civilian government to collapse.

Ashraf Ghani resigned as the Afghan President and fled the country, as he said, to prevent what he described as imminent bloodshed if militants had to storm the city.