13 American Service Members Killed and 15 Wounded in Dual Bombings in Kabul - UPDATED

13 American Service Members Killed and 15 Wounded in Dual Bombings in Kabul - UPDATED

According to a briefing by Pentagon officials on Thursday afternoon, two suicide bombers struck outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Thursday, killing at least 12 American service members, wounding 15 others, and killing dozens of Afghan civilians, officials said.

President Joe Biden held a press conference on Thursday afternoon -- and on Thursday evening, the number of American casualties rose to 13. 

The bombing caused the second-deadliest American toll of the war in 20 years of conflict.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

The blasts struck in the middle of a crowd at the airport gates who were desperately trying to make one of the last evacuation flights out.

Press reports are that gunfire also took place in the aftermath of the explosions.

The American toll was confirmed by Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., head of the United States Central Command. He said that 15 more American troops were wounded, and warned Thursday’s attack may not be the last one.

“We have other active threats against the airfield,” he told reporters during a news conference at the Pentagon which ended at about 3:30 PM.

The American troops, mostly Marines, were part of the deployment of 5,800 sent by Biden to help evacuate Americans and Afghan allies from the country after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.