Hundreds of people gather, some holding documents, near an evacuation control checkpoint on the perimeter of the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. Western nations warned Thursday of a possible attack on Kabul’s airport, where thousands have flocked as they try to flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in the waning days of a massive airlift. Britain said an attack could come within hours. (AP Photo/Wali Sabawoon)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 2:51 PM PT – Thursday, August 26, 2021

The Pentagon confirmed 12 U.S. service members were killed in the Kabul terror attack. General Kenneth McKenzie also announced 15 more U.S. service members were injured as well as a number of Afghan civilians. The commander confirmed there were two suicide bombers: one at Abbey Gate and the second one in the vicinity of the Barron Hotel.

General McKenzie revealed there continues to be extremely active threats against the airport. He also said there are no plans to send more American troops to Kabul amid the attack, stating “we have the forces we need to protect ourselves there.”

Meanwhile, the CIA is conducting covert operations outside of the Kabul airport to extract U.S. citizens from Afghanistan. The agency is reportedly using U.S. military equipment and troops to conduct the missions, which are under CIA jurisdiction to rescue U.S. citizens, Green Card holders and Afghan citizens who helped the U.S.

General McKenzie reported the U.S. has been working with the Taliban to secure the area and expand the security perimeter.

“We’ve identified some roads that we would like for them to close. They’ve identified that they will be willing to close those roads because we assessed the threat of a suicide-born vehicle threat is high right now,” he explained. “We want to reduce the possibility of one of those vehicles getting close so we’re actually moving very aggressively to do that.”

Satellite image shows Kabul International Airport and the location of an explosion near the Abbey Gate.

The extractions come as Joe Biden’s August 31 deadline to be out of the country approaches. The Taliban has threatened a response if provoked by a missed deadline.

A recent report from the White house gave an update on the number of evacuees rescued from Afghanistan in the last 24-hours. As of Thursday morning, an official confirmed approximately 14,000 people were cleared out of the region in that time frame. Seventeen U.S. military flights carried roughly 5,000 evacuees out of Kabul while 74 coalition flights carried around 8,300 people.

The U.S. now says nearly 96,000 people have been evacuated since August 14, bringing the total to over 101,000 people since the end of July. Meanwhile, a group of House members have called on Biden to extend the timeline of U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan.

In a statement from the Problem Solvers Caucus, moderate lawmakers asked the administration to reconsider the set withdrawal date. They also asked that Biden provide a clear plan to Congress that will “result in the completion of our shared national objectives.

The Problem Solvers Caucus formally endorsed the following position: pic.twitter.com/e84qDBbWfj

— Problem Solvers Caucus (@ProbSolveCaucus) August 26, 2021

The statement went on to say Democrats and Republicans are united in the commitment to protecting U.S. citizens, diplomats, intelligence officers and foreign partners who are currently attempting to flee the region. The group mentions that 75 percent of caucus members agree with the statement

In the meantime, Americans are being asked to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Several nations are echoing warnings regarding the security situation around the airport. Both Australia and the U.K. have urged people in the area to move away from the airport due to terror threats.

Intelligence reports have suggested and imminent threat from Islamic State militants. NATO has strongly urged this threat to be taken seriously. This comes as thousands of Afghan nationals have continued to rush the area in hopes of getting out.

The Taliban has condemned the bombings, allegedly carried out by ISIS-K, and blamed the U.S. military for not securing an area they are responsible for. Meanwhile, the White House said Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been briefed on the situation. The blasts come as foreign officials warned an “imminent lethal threat” of a suicide attack on the airport was present.

Smoke rises from explosion outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. The explosion went off outside Kabul’s airport, where thousands of people have flocked as they try to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Officials offered no casualty count, but a witness said several people appeared to have been killed or wounded Thursday. (AP Photo/Wali Sabawoon)

MORE NEWS: DHS Secy. Mayorkas Granting Parole To Some Afghans, Allowing Them Into U.S. Without Visas

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