Flags to fly at half-staff in Arizona for US service members killed in Kabul attack

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday ordered flags at all state buildings be lowered to half-staff through Monday in honor of the U.S. service members killed during the terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Officials said at least 13 U.S. troops and 60 Afghans were killed when two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul’s airport on Thursday.

“Today is a tragic day for our nation. I am sending my deepest condolences and prayers to the loved ones of the U.S. forces killed and wounded in today’s terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan,” Ducey said in a press release. “I am horrified by this attack on our brave service members as well as other innocent civilians in the area.”

“Arizona joins all Americans in condemning this attack in the strongest possible terms. There are no words to express the depth of Americans’ sorrow and anger for this loss of life.”

Today is a tragic day for our nation. Sending my deepest condolences and prayers to the loved ones of the U.S. forces killed and wounded in today’s terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. 1/ https://t.co/yOyBvoddBB

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) August 26, 2021

U.S. officials initially said 11 Marines and one Navy medic were among those who died, with another service member dying hours later.

The attack also wounded 18 service members with officials warning the toll could grow.

Afghan officials said more than 140 Afghans were wounded.

Western officials hours prior warned of a major attack and urged people to leave the airport, but that advice went largely unheeded by Afghans desperate to escape the country before the U.S. officially ends its 20-year presence on Aug. 31.

Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command and overseeing the evacuation, said the attacks would not stop the United States from evacuating Americans and others, and flights out were continuing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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