It is the worst-case scenario that the American military has feared for days.

President Joe Biden was in the White House Situation Center on Thursday, where he was briefed on the current situation in Afghanistan, as was the case every morning, when a "major explosion" was reported from Kabul.

John Kirby, the spokesman for the Pentagon, announced shortly after that he could confirm that the explosion at the Abbey Gate of the international airport was the result of a "complex" attack.

There was at least one more explosion at the nearby Baron Hotel.

Majid Sattar

Political correspondent for North America based in Washington.

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While the American government initially remained vague and spoke of victims among Afghans and Americans, the Taliban said at least 13 people were killed and at least 52 people injured.

A Pentagon spokesman later confirmed that several American soldiers had been killed.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the American ambassador in Kabul had informed his staff that four American marines were among the dead.

"Very specific threat"

The Abbey Gate is one of three entrances to the airport. The Americans had housed their citizens in the Baron Hotel outside the airport, who were to be evacuated out of the country. Because of the dangerous situation, they did not make the way to the airport themselves, but were picked up by helicopters. The American fuselage message moved to the airport site had already published a warning on Thursday night: "Due to the security threats at the gates of Kabul airport, we advise American citizens not to travel to the airport at the moment and to avoid the airport gates." those at Abbey Gate, East Gate or North Gate should leave the area "immediately".With reference to the American military, there was talk of a very specific threat from the local branch of the terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS).

After the attack, at least one transport plane was able to take off on Thursday. However, after the terror warning, work at the airport was shut down a little. After the American armed forces had recently accelerated their mission to such an extent that a transport aircraft could take off every 45 minutes, the speed slowed down. From Wednesday morning to Thursday morning, around 5100 people were brought to safety with American transport machines - less than half of those rescued the previous day.

The preparations for the withdrawal of the military by August 31 should have nothing to do with the decline. It was pointed out in the Pentagon that the withdrawal of the first units would have no effect on air traffic. Reports were also denied that the mission would end within 36 hours. In the State Department, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday that around 1,500 American citizens were still in Afghanistan. 4,500 Americans have already been flown out. Many of those who remained had both American and Afghan citizenship. 500 Americans had been brought to safety in the last 24 hours alone.

Blinken said that one is in contact with 500 of the presumably 1500 remaining citizens.

They had received specific instructions on how to rescue them soon.

As for the other people, whom one has not yet been able to reach despite several attempts, the matter is more complicated.

The State Department emphasized that their number could also be significantly lower.

Blinken spoke of the fact that some might have left before that.

Others may have stated that they are American citizens, but they are not.

"We are on the right track"

And there could also be some people with dual citizenship who viewed Afghanistan as their first home and did not want to live without their further relatives, said Blinken - also in view of the pressure from Congress to extend the mission if necessary. In the end, Biden had assured all Americans in Afghanistan who were willing to leave that they would “bring them home”. In the White House, Jen Psaki, the spokeswoman for the president, had emphasized with a view to August 31 that they were on the right track. That was before the attacks. The president, she added, would be informed of emergency plans if one had to stay longer.

No secret is made of the fact that by the deadline not all Afghan local workers, their families and those Afghans who are now targeted by the Taliban can be saved. Blinken said there was no "deadline" for efforts to help Americans and Afghans leave the country after the military left. The Taliban had undertaken to allow people to be safely escorted beyond August 31. Blinken said that plans are being made to support this future process with consular assistance.

Of course, it is not even clear whether or how Washington can maintain the minimal operation of its embassy. Blinken emphasized that it was the expectation of Washington and the international community that people who wanted to leave the country after the American forces had moved in would not be turned away. He added: "We certainly have incentives and leverage over a future Afghan government to ensure that this happens." The Afghans seeking protection will not be forgotten.