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The Pentagon claimed they begged to close down a gate on the airport earlier than it was hit by a suicide assault by an ISIS-Ok suicide bomber final Thursday. However US army chiefs accused Britain of wanting to maintain it open to proceed evacuating Afghans.
This got here after survivors of the blast accused American troops of opening hearth on the hundreds of evacuees.
In line with leaked transcripts seen by Politico, Pentagon officers predicted a “mass casualty” assault at Hamid Karzai Worldwide Airport.
They warned the Abbey Gate was the “highest threat” throughout a gathering 24 hours earlier than the assault.
On Thursday, American commanders set out plans to shut the gate however the choice was taken to permit the UK to proceed to evacuate folks out of Kabul.
Nonetheless, six hours later, an ISIS-Ok terrorist sporting a suicide vest killed himself and practically 200 others.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence didn’t touch upon the accusations however stated they’ve labored “intently” to make sure the secure evacuation of Afghans.
They stated in an announcement: “All through Operation Pitting we’ve got labored intently with the US to make sure the secure evacuation of hundreds of individuals.
“We ship our deepest condolences to the households of the US victims of the mindless assaults in Kabul & proceed to supply our full assist to our closest ally.”
READ MORE: Biden sends ‘probably deadly’ message to allies with Kabul retreat
“Their bravery and selflessness has enabled greater than 117,000 folks in danger to achieve security to date.
“Might God shield our troops and all these standing watch in these harmful days.”
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby echoed Mr Biden’s warning of “harmful days” and stated the threats are nonetheless very actual.
He stated on Saturday: “Threats are nonetheless very actual, they’re very dynamic and we’re monitoring them actually in real-time.
“And as I stated yesterday, we’re taking all of the means mandatory to ensure we stay centered on that menace stream and doing what we will for pressure safety.
“They misplaced a planner and so they misplaced a facilitator and obtained one wounded.
“The truth that two of those people are not strolling on the face of the Earth, that is a superb factor.”
He added: “They have been ISIS-Ok planners and facilitators and that is sufficient purpose there alone.
“I will not converse to the main points of those people and what their particular roles is perhaps.
“We’ve the flexibility and the means to hold over the horizon counterterrorism capabilities and we´re going to defend ourselves.”
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