Joe Biden vows retaliation for Kabul airport attack

The pace of evacuation flights out of Kabul accelerated today after a double suicide-bomb attack that killed 13 US troops and 72 Afghans – the deadliest day for US troops in more than a decade.

Joe Biden addressed the masterminds behind the attack in an update to the nation yesterday, telling them: “We will hunt you down and make you pay.”

The bombs – reportedly a car bomb and a suicide vest – detonated within minutes of each other at 6pm local time yesterday, one near Abbey gate and another near the Baron hotel. Witnesses described the chaos of sirens and gunfire from the Taliban attempting to disperse the crowds.

An affiliate of the Islamic State in Afghanistan known as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has claimed responsibility. The Taliban, al-Qaida, the Afghan government’s forces and the US all opposed the expansion of ISKP, whose targets have included Shia Muslims, journalists, foreigners, civilian infrastructure and military personnel.

The US president gave no indication that he plans to extend evacuations beyond the end of the month deadline.