Dildar Baykan Atalay
26 August 2021•Update: 27 August 2021
WASHINGTON
The White House is alarmed by reports of explosions outside the Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Thursday, according to media reports.
US President Joe Biden shifted his daily schedule following the blasts that reportedly killed at least three US soldiers.
Officials said Biden moved to the Situation Room and his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was postponed.
No information on a possible new date for the meeting has been disclosed.
And a White House COVID-19 Response Team news conference was also postponed.
Two explosions were heard outside the airport in the Afghan capital.
“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,” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby wrote on Twitter.
At least 10 people were killed and 50 injured, reported Al-Jazeera, citing the Taliban, which earlier this month gained control of Kabul and most of Afghanistan but not the airport.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the explosions were the result of a suicide attack and US soldiers are among the injured.
American forces are in control of the airport as evacuations continue ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline -- the only area of the country still under US control.
Thousands of people are waiting at the airport to be evacuated and large crowds have gathered outside airport grounds, seeking a way inside to get a flight out.
