Pentagon Says 13 U.S. Service Members Killed, 18 Wounded In Attack Near Kabul Airport (Update)

Thursday's blasts killed at least 13 US troops, including 11 Marines, a Navy medic, and another service member screening evacuees at airport gates  

CNBC: 13 U.S. service members killed, 18 wounded in attack near Kabul airport, Pentagon says 

* The Pentagon on Thursday confirmed that 13 U.S. service members have been killed and 18 wounded after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive near Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan. 

* U.S. Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, said that a number of Afghan civilians were also killed, but he was not able to provide a precise number. 

* He said the U.S. is still monitoring “extremely active threats” to the airport that range from suicide bombers to rocket attacks. 

* The terrorist group ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack. 

WASHINGTON — A thirteenth U.S. service member has died from his wounds and the number of injured has risen to 18 after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive near Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday. 

The injured service members are being evacuated from Afghanistan on specially equipped C-17 aircraft with surgical units, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command said Thursday evening. 

U.S. Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, said in a briefing earlier Thursday that a number of Afghan civilians were also killed, but he was not able to provide a precise number. 

The general, who oversees the U.S. military’s operations in the region, said that the Pentagon was working to determine attribution for the attack but added that the current assessment is that the bomber is affiliated with ISIS. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack.  

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Update: US suffers deadliest day in Afghanistan since 2011: Kabul Airport suicide attack that killed 13 marines is worst loss of life since Taliban shot down Chinook helicopter killing 38 (Daily Mail)  

WNU Editor: The White House has said that President Biden will be calling the families of the fallen. 

According to AP, 169 Afghans were killed in yesterday's attack .... Death toll rises in Kabul attack as US presses on with evacuations despite fears of more attacks (AP).