Biden news: Psaki shuts down GOP impeachment threat as Israel PM extends ‘condolences and deep sadness’
White House and Pentagon provide updates on response to Kabul attack as hundreds continue to be evacuated from Afghanistan
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Following a suicide bombing at Kabul airport that left 13 American service members dead and 18 wounded, among dozens of others killed, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett extended “condolences and deep sadness for the loss of American lives” during a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday.
After pledging to “hunt down” those responsible for the attack, the president was briefed by military officials on Friday on the likelihood of “another terror attack” and the “maximum force protection measures” underway at Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Military officials also updated the president and vice president “on plans to develop Isis-K targets,” according to statement from White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
“The next few days of this mission will be the most dangerous period to date,” the statement said.
Injured US service members have been transported to the US Army’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
Isis-K, a sworn enemy of the Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ms Psaki told reporters on Friday that the president has made clear “that he does not want them to live on earth anymore.”
A number of Republican lawmakers have called on the president to resign over the ongoing crisis. GOP House leader Kevin McCarthy said there will be “day of reckoning.”
Ms Psaki dismissed calls from GOP lawmakers, adding that “the backdrop” of their calls “is the men and women of the US military deployed on the ground are bravely continuing to implement a mission to save lives on the ground.”
“Yesterday they lost 13 of their own and the president made absolutely clear that we’re going to hunt down, go after and kill the terrorists who are responsible,” she said. “Everyone should be supportive of that.”
US military officials have stressed that the attack has not stopped evacuations, which will continue until the end of the month as planned. US forces have evacuated roughly 12,500 people over a 24-hour period into early Friday morning, according to the White House. Since the end of July, the US has relocated approximately 110,600 people, the White House said on Friday.
Follow live updates as they happenened
Pentagon officials to hold press conference
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby and Air Force Gen Glen VanHerck, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Northern Command, will hold a briefing at 3.30pm EST on the status of Afghanistan withdrawal and evacuations.
Israeli PM offers ‘condolences and deep sadness’ in White House meeting with Biden
In a meeting with Biden at the White House on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett extended “condolences and deep sadness for the loss of American lives” following the attack in Kabul.
“The American servicemembers lost their lives while on a mission to save other people’s lives, and that’s the very definition of courage and sacrifice. May they rest in peace,” he said.
The leaders discussed Covid-19, national security threats and Iran’s nuclear capability, according to the White House.
Mr Bennett added that Israel is “in the toughest neighborhood in the world.”
“We’ve got Isis on our southern border, Hezbollah on our northern border, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Iranian militias that surround us,” he continued. “They all want to annihilate the Jewish State.”
He thanked the president for helping to “fortify Israel’s strategic advantage.”
Psaki swats down impeachment chatter and GOP backlash on Kabul: ‘Now is not the time for politics’
The Independent’s Eric Garcia has more on the White House response to calls from GOP lawmakers to impeach Biden or remove him from office.
Psaki swats down impeachment chatter and Kabul backlash: ‘Not the time for politics’
Multiple Republicans have called for President Joe Biden to resign
State Department communicating with 500 Americans to evacuate
State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters on Friday that the department is communication with roughly 500 Americans to coordinate their evacuation from Afghanistan.
“Last night alone, we reached out to every American who we believe may be in Afghanistan and attempting to leave,” he said. “In many cases, we did this again multiple times, by phone, by email, by text.”
He also said the “vast majority” of US embassy staff and their families have been evacuated or are at the airport in Kabul waiting to leave.
US forces have evacuated roughly 12,500 people over a 24-hour period into early Friday morning, according to the White House. Since the end of July, the US has relocated approximately 110,600 people, the White House said on Friday.
Defense Department: Afghan refugees will remain on base ‘as long as it takes’ as families start over in US
US Air Force Gen Glen VanHerck, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Northern Command, described facilities on base for vulnerable Afghans entering the US as they go through the screening and relocation process.
Government facilities will offer culturally appropriate food, clothing and places of worship, among other services, he said. He said that one father thanked him, describing that he could sleep for the first time without being afraid for his family.
People will remain on base “as long as it takes to get them through the process,” he added.
“They’re coming here, starting over, with what they bring with them,” he said.
Facilities have also had support from NGOs and donations from families.
They will remain on base until they complete a rigorous, often-lengthy special immigrant via process through the State Department before being relocated, likely in communities with Afghan populations or in many cases where they may have family, Gen VanHerck said.
We’re closing live coverage of the Biden administration and US withdrawal from Afghanistan for Friday, 27 August. Stay tuned with The Independent.
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