The Pentagon said on Friday that only one suicide bomber carried out a fatal attack at Kabul Airport, correcting its earlier assessment that there were two bombers and two separate explosions.
General Hank Taylor said: “We do not believe that there was a second explosion at or near the Baron Hotel. This was a suicide bomber.”
It is believed that there was a second explosion in the hotel near the airport.
Thursday’s attack killed at least 85 people, including 13 U.S. troops, and opened a deadly new chapter in a drama staged at Kabul Airport. Thousands of people who were afraid of Taliban rule tried to escape their own lives in the frantic U.S.-led airlift. nation. Ends on August 31.
Read | Former health officials say the death toll from the explosion at Kabul Airport rises to 72
The Pentagon also said that the evacuation operations may be subject to more attacks, such as the “Thursday” claimed by the local branch of the “Islamic State” organization.
US military spokesman John Kirby said: “We still believe that there are credible threats… specific, credible threats.”
Since August 14th, as part of the airlift, more than 100,000 people have fled from Afghanistan, Taylor said, and more than 5,400 people are still waiting to be evacuated at the airport.
He said the United States will be able to airlift personnel out “until the last minute.”
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