13 US service members killed in twin explosions outside Kabul airport

At least 13 U.S. service members were among dozens killed after twin explosions tore through the crowd congregating at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in the Afghan capital and a hotel about 200 yards from the gate.

The death toll, including 11 U.S. Marines and a Navy medic, and an additional 15 service members were wounded on Thursday, were reported by Commander, Gen. Kenneth McKenzie during a Pentagon press briefing Thursday afternoon.

A Central Command spokesperson said Thursday evening an additional service member died since McKenzie's remarks. The toll of injured service members was also upped to 18 from 15, said the spokesperson, who added that those injured are "in the process of being aeromedically evacuated from Afghanistan on specially equipped C-17s with embarked surgical units."

The deaths of U.S. service members mark the first combat fatalities in the region since February 2020 and marks the deadliest incident in Afghanistan since Aug. 6, 2011, when 30 U.S. service members, including 22 Navy SEALs, were killed along with seven Afghan special forces members and an Afghan civilian interpreter when their helicopter was gunned down in Wardak province.