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US President Joe Biden in the White House: "We will not forget, we will not forgive"
Photo: JIM WATSON / AFP
Dozens of people are dead, many more wounded: The desperate people at the airport in Kabul and US soldiers have been the target of an attack.
Two suicide bombers blew themselves up, then more attackers fired into the crowd.
In an initial reaction to the events, US President Joe Biden expressed condolences to the relatives of the victims - and threatened the perpetrators and backers with retaliation.
Biden blamed "ISIS-K", an offshoot of the terrorist militia "Islamic State", for the attacks.
The group had claimed the attacks for themselves.
Addressing the perpetrators, he said: “We will not forget, we will not forgive.
We'll hunt you down and make you pay. "
The US has information on where the masterminds of the attacks are, said Biden.
Even without major military operations, the US would find ways to hold them accountable.
"Wherever they are," Biden pointed out.
At least twelve US soldiers were killed in the attacks.
Reports of a 13th dead US soldier have not yet been officially confirmed.
These are the first deaths of US troops since the US government's deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Biden called the killed US soldiers heroes.
You were involved in a "dangerous, selfless mission" to "save the lives of others".
The Democrat assured that the terrorists could not get the US to stop its "mission."
US Americans and Afghan allies will be brought out.
Even after the troops have withdrawn - still planned for August 31 - ways will be found to get more US citizens out of the country.
The US government assumes that there are around a thousand Americans in Afghanistan.
US President expects support from the Taliban
Biden believes it is in the interests of the Taliban to continue helping with the evacuation of US citizens and former Afghan local staff even after the American troops have withdrawn. The Taliban are "not good guys," but they have an interest in working with the international community. The Taliban wanted to keep the airport in Kabul open, but could not do so without outside help, he said. In addition, it is also in their interests not to let the economy crash.
The security situation around the airport had recently worsened again significantly. The Bundeswehr had already reported on Tuesday that an increasing number of potential IS suicide bombers were in Kabul. Biden had made a similar statement. Among other things, Biden justified his adherence to the plan to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan by August 31 with this terror threat.
The US military continues to expect attacks.
"We believe it is your desire to continue these attacks and we expect these attacks will continue," said US General Kenneth McKenzie, who heads US Central Command Centcom.
Thousands of people are trying to flee abroad for fear of the Taliban.
For more than a week, they have been gathering around various entrances to the airport to get on an evacuation flight.
asc / ulz / dpa