BREAKING: Pentagon spox John Kirby confirms that there has been an explosion outside the airport in Kabul; Reports of 'complex' suicide attack; Harrowing footage from the scene is making its way out; American troops, children reportedly among the casualties; UPDATE: At least four Marines confirmed dead

Editor’s note: Please scroll down for updates.

This is not good:

JUST IN: Sources tell @dlippman @alexbward and I there has been a large explosion at Abbey gate at the Kabul airport

— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) August 26, 2021

Officials: There was an explosion at the Hamid Karzai International Airport

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 26, 2021

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby has confirmed that there was, in fact, an explosion at the airport in Kabul:

We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can.

— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021

Oh no.

#BREAKING
Aug 26—Kabul, Afghanistan
Massive explosion reported at the airport's Abbey Gate. Shots also reported.

Pentagon has confirmed the blast. No report of casualties as of yet.https://t.co/BckKSkqoZL pic.twitter.com/kqmeuGsaW8

— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) August 26, 2021

There are reports of gunfire and multiple casualties.

#BREAKING A big blast heard near Kabul airport. Sporadic gunshots continue.#Afghanistan

— Habib Khan (@HabibKhanT) August 26, 2021

CNN reporting multiple casualties due to the explosion at Kabul airport

— Tamar Beeri (@TamarBeeri) August 26, 2021

#AFG Explosion took place outside of the eastern gate of airport and gunfire is underway. There are casualties and fatalities, multiple eye witnesses tells me.

— BILAL SARWARY (@bsarwary) August 26, 2021

We will continue to monitor the situation for developments.

Let's wait for more info. But "major explosion at airport during desperate evacuation" is, in general, a news report that isn't going to end happily. https://t.co/V8iXrm9DcV

— Jeff B. tried to do his best, but he could not (@EsotericCD) August 26, 2021

All we can do now is pray.

This is heartbreaking. Pray for our troops and Afghan allies. https://t.co/pcQ2aMW0Pc

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) August 26, 2021

Cap Hill sources say Multiple explosions in Kabul. No safe gates at airport. The incident comes at the airport as lawmakers and their aides have been scrambling to get Americans and certain Afghans out. Fox is told there may be persons with multiple suicide vests

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) August 26, 2021

BREAKING: Two sources confirm a second explosion outside #HKIA w/ @alexbward

— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) August 26, 2021

***

Update:

JUST IN: Three sources confirm US casualties. US forces returned fire after first explosion. @AndrewDesiderio @alexbward

— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) August 26, 2021

Fox's @JenGriffinFNC confirms that three U.S. Marines were injured in the attack on the Kabul Airport. pic.twitter.com/b1fgVlj6Mv

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 26, 2021

At least 13 killed, including children. At least 4 American troops injured/killed

— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) August 26, 2021

***

Update:

FNC’s Jennifer Griffin forecasts a disturbing but sadly not unlikely scenario:

FOX's @JenGriffinFNC analysis now: The attack only increases likelihood of a rapid withdrawal from Kabul. End of rescue mission.

— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) August 26, 2021

Is this “the end of the mission,” John Kirby?

***

Update:

An ISIS suicide bomber was reportedly responsible for at least one explosion:

An ISIS suicide bomber was responsible for the explosion outside the Kabul airport, per a U.S. official and a source.

This comes just hours after officials began warning about an increased ISIS threat in Afghanistan. https://t.co/WcwyOqOQLL

— POLITICO (@politico) August 26, 2021

***

Update:

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.

— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021

***

Update:

Look for this situation to get much, much worse:

NEW: Source briefed on the situation in Kabul tells me “hundreds of ISIS-K in the vicinity, attacks likely to continue”

— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) August 26, 2021

***

Update:

It’s gotten worse:

JUST IN – At least 40 dead and 120 wounded, with the majority in critical condition, arriving at #Kabul hospitals following the terror attacks, according to a local NYT reporter.

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 26, 2021

#UPDATE
At least 40 dead and 120 wounded, with the majority in critical condition, arriving at #Kabul hospitals following the terror attacks, according to a local NYT reporter.

Reminder:
6 days ago, Biden downplayed the threat of terrorism in Afghanistan.pic.twitter.com/73QYCPZO5j

— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) August 26, 2021

At least four Marines are confirmed to have been killed in the attacks:

BREAKING: At least 4 U.S. Marines killed in bombings near Kabul Airport – WSJ https://t.co/CHl9P1Xjia

— BNO News (@BNONews) August 26, 2021

Wall Street Journal reporting four U.S. Marines Killed in Kabul airport explosions, 3 wounded.

— Gareth Browne (@BrowneGareth) August 26, 2021

Breaking: The U.S. ambassador in Kabul has told staff there that four U.S. Marines were killed in an explosion at the city’s airport and three wounded, a U.S. official with knowledge of the briefing said. https://t.co/xZYNDNinPZ

— Ben Pershing (@benpershing) August 26, 2021

Statement on this morning's attack at #HKIA: pic.twitter.com/Qb1DIAJQJU

— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021

***

Update:

Our @JenGriffinFNC brings us more tragic news this hour. The death toll among U.S. servicemembers is now at least 10

— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) August 26, 2021

At least 10 US service members have been killed outside the airport in Kabul — from US officials according to our Pentagon team.

— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) August 26, 2021

Third explosion reported in Kabul. At least 10 American soldiers dead and that number is expected to quickly rise. We hadn’t lost a. American life in a year and a half!!

— Adam Housley (@adamhousley) August 26, 2021

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two US officials say 11 Marines and a Navy medic were killed in the Afghanistan attacks.

— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) August 26, 2021

Horrible.

UPDATE: At least 12 U.S. service members killed in suicide attack outside Kabul airport; 11 Marines, Navy medic, dozens wounded: U.S. officials

— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) August 26, 2021

UPDATE — More than 60 Afghan civilians were killed and 150 others were wounded in Kabul Airport explosions, a health official told us. #Kabul #KabulAirport

— Ehsanullah Amiri (@euamiri) August 26, 2021

This did not have to happen.

***

Update:

The latest from CENTCOM:

Gen. McKenzie, Commander of @CENTCOM: 12 American service members killed, 15 wounded in two explosions at Abbey Gate and near Baron Hotel in Kabul.

— Brianna Keilar (@brikeilarcnn) August 26, 2021

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