[Asia Economy Reporter Inho Yoo] On the 26th (local time), the government classified the explosion incident near the airport in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, as a terrorist attack and strongly condemned it on the 27th.
On that day, at least 90 people, including 13 Americans, were killed and about 150 injured in a bomb terror attack targeting Kabul Airport.
The government expressed concern over the occurrence of this terrorist incident and extended deep condolences to the victims and their families.
A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “The government firmly declares that terrorism cannot be justified for any reason and will actively participate in the international community's efforts to eradicate terrorism.”
Our government, along with the international community, unanimously condemned the bomb terror attack that occurred on the outskirts of Kabul Airport in Afghanistan.
Leaders from various countries, including the United Kingdom, comforted the families of the victims and the injured and announced that evacuation operations for their nationals would continue. U.S. President Joe Biden stated that the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) was responsible and announced plans for military retaliation.
According to AFP and Reuters, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed in a statement that this terror attack was a “barbaric assault, unprecedented in decades,” and lamented the incident.
He also said that the evacuation of British nationals from Kabul would continue until the last moment.
French President Emmanuel Macron issued a statement on the same day, saying, “We firmly condemn the terrorists' attack” and “extend condolences to the families of American and Afghan victims.”
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio strongly condemned the terror attack on Twitter, writing, “We mourn the deceased and express solidarity with the injured.”
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde also wrote on Twitter, “Deep condolences to the families of Americans killed and injured in the Kabul Airport terror attack,” and “Thank you for your efforts that made this historic evacuation operation possible.”
The Middle East also joined in condemning the terror attack. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret over the casualties among Americans and Afghans in a statement and reaffirmed its position of “solidarity in fighting all terrorism, violence, and extremism.”
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated in a statement, “We reject criminal acts that are incompatible with religious principles, morals, human values.”
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement strongly condemning the “vicious attack,” and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz emphasized, “Our hearts are with the U.S. military and Afghans in Kabul.”
Heads of international organizations also expressed anger over the terror attack.
Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), posted on Twitter that day, “We strongly condemn the horrific terror attack near Kabul Airport,” emphasizing that evacuating as many people as possible from Kabul as soon as possible is a priority.
Additionally, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated regarding the incident, “Civilians must be protected,” and “WHO is ready to support medical facilities treating the injured.”
Meanwhile, around 6 p.m. local time on the 26th, bomb attacks occurred sequentially at the Abbey Gate on the southeast side of Kabul International Airport and at the Baron Hotel about 250 meters away.
AP News reported, citing Afghan officials, that at least 60 Afghans were killed and at least 143 injured in this attack.
The international terrorist group IS claimed responsibility for the attack through its propaganda outlet, Amaq News Agency. IS explained that its operatives penetrated all security facilities and detonated explosive vests within 5 meters of U.S. forces.
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