Official: Several US Marines killed in Kabul airport attack

Click here for live updates.face

By SAYED ZIARMAL HASHEMI, LOLITA C. BALDOR and JOSEPH KRAUSS Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Two suicide bombers and gunmen have targeted crowds massing near the Kabul airport, in the waning days of a massive airlift that has drawn thousands of people seeking to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

A U.S. official says several Marines were killed and a number of other American military were wounded in the attack.  The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations.

U.S. officials have said that information is still coming in and they are trying to determine exact numbers of casualties. The Pentagon would not say what troops were involved but acknowledged that “a number of U.S. service members were killed.”

Russian officials said at least 13 people were killed and 15 wounded. It was not clear if American deaths were included in the Russian toll.

A U.S. official said the complex attack was “definitely believed” to have been carried out by the Islamic State group, whose affiliate in Afghanistan grew out of disaffected Taliban members who hold an even more extreme view of Islam.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed the blasts, saying one was near an airport entrance and another was a short distance away by a hotel.

This story is developing and will be updated as more details become available.