After the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan, the Islamist Taliban took power in the country – and are redesigning it according to their ideas. The most important developments in the news blog.
Pentagon: Explosion at Kabul Airport
Two explosions occurred outside the airport in the Afghan capital Kabul. The US Department of Defense said that at least twelve US soldiers were killed. 15 US soldiers were also injured.
Two suicide bombers blew themselves up, one of them at Abbey Gate, one of the gates of Kabul airport, and another not far from the gate near the Baron Hotel. After the detonations, a number of fighters from the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) opened fire on civilians and soldiers, says US General Kenneth McKenzie, in a video link with journalists in the Pentagon.
The information about other victims is imprecise and varies depending on the source. The BBC quoted a senior Afghan health system official who said in the evening that at least 60 other people were killed and 140 injured. A spokesman for the Taliban’s political office in Doha, capital of Qatar, said earlier that at least 13 people were killed and at least 52 others injured in the attack.
Biden: “The IS terrorists will not win”
In an emotional speech in the White House, US President Biden affirmed that the US military would not allow itself to be deterred from the rescue flights from Kabul after the attack in Kabul. “We will continue the evacuations. The IS terrorists will not win. Our mission will continue,” said the president. Biden threatens those responsible for the attack with retaliation: “We will not forget. We will not forgive. We will hunt you down and bring you to account”.
The US President expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers killed in the attack and asked for a minute’s silence for the victims. “These American servicemen who gave their lives – it’s an overused word, but perfectly appropriate here – they were heroes,” says Biden. They are the “backbone of America” and “the best that the country has to offer”.
IS offshoot claims stop for itself
The branch of the terrorist militia Islamic State, which is active in Afghanistan, has claimed the attack at Kabul airport. This is announced by IS-Khorasan, as ISIS calls itself in Afghanistan and Pakistan, on Thursday evening with a message from IS spokesman Amak that was distributed over the Internet. The IS had previously confessed to the attack on the Telegram messenger service.
ISIS appeared in Afghanistan in early 2015. He wants to establish a “province” called IS-Khorasan there and on Pakistani territory and has carried out attacks primarily on Shiite targets. The US and Afghan security forces have attacked the IS positions several times a week in recent years. Nevertheless, IS continued to carry out serious attacks, intensified recruitment and tried to gain a foothold in northern Afghanistan. Despite great ideological closeness, IS is hostile to the Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan just over a week ago.
Reports of another explosion in the evening
In the evening shortly after around 10 p.m. German time, there were reports of another explosion based on reports from residents. The detonation is said to have occurred in an area three to four kilometers from the airport. A short time later, however, the all-clear comes: the detonation is said to be due to the detonation of ammunition. A former special unit of the Afghan security forces carried out the sorengung so that the ammunition would not fall into the hands of the Taliban.
German soldiers not affected
German soldiers are not affected by the attack in Kabul, as the Bundeswehr announced on Twitter shortly after the explosions in the early evening. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) later also said that the government had “no information about German victims.” The foreign minister said the pictures from Kabul are “horrific, and they go to everybody’s heart,” said the foreign minister.
The first attack occurred just minutes before the Bundeswehr’s last evacuation machine started. Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announced that the aircraft was in the loading phase when the bombs detonated. Thereupon the responsible command immediately gave the order to start in an emergency.
Merkel: “We end the airlift today”
Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks of “depressing news” in view of the attacks in front of Kabul airport. The terrorists had targeted people who were waiting in front of the airport to be rescued. “This is an absolutely vile attack in a very depressing situation,” said the Chancellor.
According to Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, all German members of the evacuation mission in Kabul have meanwhile flown out and are in Tashkent. According to the Defense Minister, the attack “showed that it was not possible to extend the mission in Kabul”. Nevertheless, the federal government is doing everything in its power to ensure that local workers can continue to be drawn out of Afghanistan in the coming weeks and months.
“We end the airlift today,” says Chancellor Angela Merkel. But they are negotiating at high pressure how further people can leave the country. “We will not forget those who can no longer be brought to safety with the airlift,” she said.
The operation had started on Monday last week. Bundeswehr Inspector General Eberhard Zorn says that the Bundeswehr has flown out 5200 people from 45 nations since the beginning. Among them are 4200 Afghans and 505 German citizens.
US and UK rescue missions continue despite the attack
The US armed forces continue the evacuation mission in Kabul even after the devastating terrorist attack. “We are continuing the order,” says US General Kenneth McKenzie. According to the general, there are still around 1,000 US citizens in Afghanistan.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also stressed that the attack would not prevent his administration from continuing with its tasks. Anything else would dishonor the sacrifice made by the killed soldiers. Austin extends its condolences to the family members and comrades of the killed and injured US soldiers. “We regret their deaths. We will treat their wounds. And we will support the families in their grief. But we will not be dissuaded from our task,” said the minister.
The US military has asked the Taliban to set up their checkpoints outside the airport even further away from the site in order to have an additional safety buffer. There is currently a “high threat” from vehicles that could be used for suicide bombings, stressed McKenzie. “That’s why we want to reduce the possibility that one of these vehicles will come close,” says the general.
The British armed forces also want to continue their evacuation mission. This is what Prime Minister Boris Johnson said after a meeting of the security cabinet. The Prime Minister condemned the act as “barbaric” and expressed his condolences to the USA and “the Afghan people”. He does not want to comment on intelligence about the background. But it was “almost certain” that members of the Taliban were among the victims, said Johnson.
US military expects further attacks
After the attack in Kabul, the US military is expecting further attacks by the terrorists. “We are doing everything we can to be prepared for these attacks,” said US General Kenneth McKenzie. There are also talks with the Taliban, who are responsible for security outside the airport. It is an “extremely active threat situation”. (08/26/2021)
Hospital Airbus brings the last two German soldiers from Kabul to safety
In the evening, the transport aircraft equipped to take care of the injured is still in operation A400M-MedEvac sent from Tashkent to Kabul. The plane lands unscheduled and offers the Americans help with supplies. In addition, two German soldiers who had to be left behind in Kabul during the chaos after the explosion are recorded.
Defense Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer said the two soldiers were in the US part of the airport at the time of the attack. At no time was there any danger to her life or limb. Which has meanwhile returned to Tashkent MedEvac stand ready for another operation in Kabul if it is needed to rescue the injured.
The last Bundeswehr machines from Kabul started
The last three Bundeswehr machines to rescue Germans and local employees from Afghanistan took off on Thursday. In the days before it had already become apparent that the military rescue mission was coming to an end.
According to Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, the federal government is working to create exit opportunities for remaining local workers and people who are particularly at risk. “The military evacuation is now over. But our work will continue until everyone for whom we are responsible in Afghanistan is safe. That is why our relief operation is entering a new phase today,” says the SPD politician.
The Germans who remained in Afghanistan were kept in contact and they were working on “supporting them with an organized departure”. Maas also made it clear that they would continue to ensure that Afghans can leave the country. “We will also do everything in our power to enable the local staff who are still in Afghanistan to leave the country. And that applies to the entire federal government.” The embassies in the neighboring states have been instructed to issue entry papers to all former employees of the armed forces and federal ministries who already have an admission permit.
For other particularly endangered Afghans, an exit perspective will be created. “You will receive a confirmation of admission from us with which you can quickly and easily obtain visas for Germany from our embassies in neighboring countries.”
UN Secretary General invites veto powers to crisis meeting
In view of the chaotic situation and the tense security situation in Afghanistan, UN Secretary General António Guterres has invited the veto powers to a crisis meeting. According to diplomatic circles, the ambassadors of the USA, China, Russia, Great Britain and France will meet with the UN chief on Monday in New York to discuss the situation.
Macron – People on 20 buses awaiting evacuation
According to French President Emmanuel Macron, there are still 20 buses in Afghanistan with French citizens and other people who are to be protected. Some of these buses are located at the gate of the airport. However, a successful evacuation cannot be guaranteed, he continues. Discussions are currently underway with the Taliban about this.
The situation around the airport in Kabul is still “extremely dangerous”. The circumstances of the explosions there are still very unclear, said Macron. But it is clear that there is an increased level of tension there. The French President added that the risks were clear from the start.
Merkel cancels trip to Israel because of the situation in Afghanistan
Chancellor Angela Merkel canceled the trip to Israel planned for August 28-30 due to the dramatic developments in Afghanistan. Both sides agreed that the visit should be made up at a later date, said government spokesman Steffen Seibert.
Merkel in the Bundestag: a failed speech (SZ Plus)