A suicide bomber and a gunman on Thursday attacked crowds of Afghans trying to flee the country at Kabul airport and killed 13 U.S. soldiers, officials said.
Eighteen members of the service were injured and officials said that number could grow. More than 140 Afghans were injured, an Afghan official said.
In a passionate speech on Thursday, President Joe Biden said such deaths would not drive the United States out of Afghanistan earlier than planned, and has instructed the U.S. military to develop plans to attack ISIS.
“We will not forgive. We will not forget it. We will chase you and make you pay, ”Biden said.
Thursday’s attack was one of the deadliest since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, and more is expected.
These are the names of five lost in the bombing:
Maxton William Soviak, 22, Ohio Navy physician
Max Soviak, who graduated from high school in 2017, was killed in Afghanistan at Kabul airport, WKYC News reports.
“We mourn the loss of this sailor and offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of our fallen shipmate,” the Navy said in a statement.
David Lee Espinoza, Texas sailor
The city of Laredo said that “Espinoza’s acts of courage and bravery will always be remembered in our community.”
KGNS News reports that Espinoza was 20 years old and lived in Rio Bravo all his life.
Jared Schmitz, 20, Missouri sailor
Schmitz was deployed to Afghanistan from Jordan, according to KTVI news. It was his first deployment.
State Representative Nick Schroer honored the man on his Facebook page: “This young sailor was from St. Charles County and is a true American hero. Keep his family in your prayers today.”
Rylee McCollum, Wyoming Navy
McCollum was controlling a checkpoint at the airport when the bomb went off and killed him, The Casper Star Tribune reports.
Her sister told the newspaper she was expecting a baby in three weeks.
Kareem Nikoui, California Navy
Nikoui, who graduated from high school in 2019, died while parked at Kabul airport, according to a statement from the city of Norco.
City officials said his name would be enshrined in a city veterans memorial.