There have been U.S. civilian and military casualties after an explosion close to Kabul Airport. Initial reports pointed to over 100 dead, children among them.
The casualties also reportedly include 13 U.S. military personnel. The early number of reported wounded is 140. The number of dead Afghans was listed initially at 90.
Congressman Brendan Boyle, in a statement reacting to the blasts said: “I utterly condemn the terrorist attack in Afghanistan today that claimed the lives of multiple U.S. soldiers and civilians.
"I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those brave American soldiers who were killed in this cowardly attack, and to the families of all who died. Amid such tragedy, we must remain focused on the continuing effort to extract our fellow Americans from Afghanistan and do everything we can to get them to safety."
Reports indicate that the Irish military and diplomatic team in the city is safe and the Irish evacuation mission in Kabul Airport has come to an end with the rescue on Thursday of 26 Irish citizens and their dependents.
That said, there are more Irish citizens and dependents still in Afghanistan, as many as 60, and their situation remains uncertain.
According to a report in the Irish Times, the evacuation of the 26 is in addition to the 10 people who were evacuated before the arrival of the Emergency Consular Assistance Team (ECAT), comprising Irish diplomats and members of the Army Ranger Wing.
"However, the Department of Defence says it is now aware of approximately 60 more Irish citizens and their family members requiring support, in addition to a further 15 Afghan citizens with Irish residency."
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney said on Thursday evening Irish Time: “I would like to thank the members of the ECAT team for their rapid deployment to such a challenging and complex environment and for their excellent work in securing the successful evacuation of 26 people.
“I know there are many in Ireland today with deep concerns for family members, friends and colleagues who remain in Afghanistan.
“Along with other countries, our team needed to evacuate due to the deteriorating security situation. I can give full assurance that the overall consular effort is continuing and we remain strongly committed to assisting those requiring ongoing consular support in Afghanistan.”
Earlier, according to the Irish Times report, the ECAT managed to secure seats for Irish passport holders on the aircraft of other nations before themselves departing this afternoon, shortly after a devastating suicide bomb outside the gates caused which killed several and injured dozens more.
It is understood no members of the Irish team were injured in the blast.
"The team members left on two separate flights on Thursday afternoon. One is a French military flight destined for Paris, where it will land this evening. It is understood the other flight is likely to land in Abu Dhabi in the UAE where the Irish Government jet is on standby.
"The mission, which lasted about 36 hours, has been viewed as a success by officials. However, there is still concern for the safety of between 12 and 18 Irish citizens and dependents who were unable to get to Kabul International Airport and remain in the country. Officials say efforts to secure their safe passage out of the country will continue".
The "Emergency Consular Aid Team," comprised of two diplomats and nine Irish Army Rangers, were in Kabul on a mission to evacuate as many as 36 Irish citizens.
Said a statement posted on the Irish government's Department of Defence website earlier Thursday: "The pre-planned process of the withdrawal of our ECAT mission to Kabul has begun and will continue across the course of today (Thursday Aug 26th).
"Irish diplomats and members of the Army Ranger Wing have aided a number of Irish citizens and residents to evacuate from Afghanistan. Those evacuation flights are ongoing today and for security and operational reasons we will not give detail on numbers until the ECAT has left Kabul.
"Given the change in security status at Kabul Airport, remaining Irish citizens and residents in Kabul and beyond have been advised against coming to or remaining at the airport as gates are no longer open."
RTE was reporting that Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney had said early Thursday that evacuation flights for Irish citizens and residents in Afghanistan were continuing.
Given the warnings issued around Kabul airport, however, the remaining Irish citizens and residents in Kabul and beyond have "been advised against coming to or remaining at the airport as gates are no longer open."
Reported the Irish national broadcaster: "In an update this afternoon, the minister said that the pre-planned process of withdrawing the emergency consular aid team that was dispatched to the country will take place throughout the day.
"In light of the warning to avoid the airport, the minister said that ongoing consular support will continue for Irish citizens and residents in Afghanistan."
The update came after Minister Coveney was due to chair a meeting of officials in the National Emergency Coordination Centre.
In an update on Twitter Thursday morning, Coveney said "Our team of diplomats and Army Rangers in Kabul are safe, busy and doing fantastic work with partners.
"We remain in close contact with them to make decisions on exit. We are also in continuing contact with all Irish individuals and families in Afghanistan to support and advise."
Though the Irish team is now reported safe the overall situation in and around Kabul airport is anything but. The explosions follow repeated warnings from U.S. intelligence agencies and the Pentagon as well as other western allies that an offshoot of ISIS was planning attacks.
Despite please from a number of allies, and indeed Minister Coveney on behalf of the Irish government, President Biden has stated that he is committed to a final U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan by August 31.
The president has, however, spoken of contingency plans, and given events today such plans could well now be under closer examination.
The help that the Irish team received from the French military, meanwhile, coincided with an official visit to Ireland today by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Speaking in Dublin, Macron said he would co-ordinate with “our American allies” in response to the explosions outside Kabul airport.
Macron said: “As we speak in front of you, the situation is worsening around the military airport. We are being confronted with a very tense situation, which leads us to co-ordinate with our American allies.
“We will also closely co-ordinate on the issues to be dealt with in the near future, military co-operation, migration issues and co-operate with the UN Security Council, because in the coming days and weeks we will have to define the course of the mandate of the United Nations.
“The coming hours will remain extremely dangerous in Kabul and around the airport.”
