icourse do their best for it, and of course do their best to try to prevent it, but a suicide bomb attack is one of the most difficult forms of attack, if not the most difficult form, to identify and then present before it actually occurs, so it is almost impossible to avoid something like this. the americans _ to avoid something like this. the americans were saying not that long ago, but there was the fear of further attacks. you don't know anything on the ground, what will british forces and other forces currently be doing?— british forces and other forces currently be doing? they will be maintaining _ currently be doing? they will be maintaining the _ currently be doing? they will be maintaining the operation - currently be doing? they will be maintaining the operation that l currently be doing? they will be i maintaining the operation that they have been conducting for a while now, in other words protecting themselves and kabul airport. i would assume that... inaudible operations have been paused at least temporarily, maybe not, buti operations have been paused at least temporarily, maybe not, but i would have thought so at this stage. and they are also, of course, on the ground, dealing with casualties and preparing for another tack along the same lines, which i think gains in

likelihood as we get closer and closer to the deadline. i think they will be... they are already prepared for it, they are already in a posture ready to deal with an attack like this and that will continue. ministers here in the uk have been pretty open for the course of the week that they thought that people would be left behind. in your view, does this up the likelihood of that? does it increase or increase the total number that will be marooned there in afghanistan? i total number that will be marooned there in afghanistan?— there in afghanistan? i think it robabl there in afghanistan? i think it probably does _ there in afghanistan? i think it probably does because - there in afghanistan? i think it - probably does because operational attacks like this can't help but disrupt a fraught evacuation of this nature, so i think it probably reduces the number and i suppose that the prime minister and our military commanders are making decisions now about how this will affect the further operation, whether it will be in some way will continue as before or whether it will be brought to an end. but the terrible thing about all this, of course, is that this evacuation could have started months ago and we

would not be situation we are in now. ., , ,., would not be situation we are in now. ., , ., , , now. you served so many times in this mission _ now. you served so many times in this mission over _ now. you served so many times in this mission over the _ now. you served so many times in this mission over the two - now. you served so many times in | this mission over the two decades. to see at the end this way, even before today's attack, how does that leave you feeling? i before today's attack, how does that leave you feeling?— leave you feeling? i think it... it is effectively _ leave you feeling? i think it... it is effectively a _ leave you feeling? i think it... it is effectively a betrayal - leave you feeling? i think it... it is effectively a betrayal of - leave you feeling? i think it... it is effectively a betrayal of the i is effectively a betrayal of the sacrifice made by soldiers and other members of the armed forces, from britain, from us and other allies, who have made so many sacrifices. some have been killed, others have sustained life changing wounds, others have made different forms of sacrifice, but all have contributed a huge amount in that period of time, but now they are being betrayed, as are the people of afghanistan and indeed as are the people of our country, because the decision to withdraw from a chemist and makes that country a huge amount more dangerous to us than it has been since at least 911. we now have probably the most severe terrorist

threat to this country has faced for many, many years. as, threat to this country has faced for many. many years-— many, many years. a final quick thou:ht. many, many years. a final quick thought- do _ many, many years. a final quick thought. do you... _ thought. do you... inaudible an attempt to humiliate those foreign forces in these final days, with these attacks we have seen today? with these attacks we have seen toda ? , today? yes, i have... we are already deel today? yes, i have... we are already deeply humiliated, _ today? yes, i have... we are already deeply humiliated, nato _ today? yes, i have... we are already deeply humiliated, nato is _ deeply humiliated, nato is humiliated, the us is humiliated, britain absolutely, by president biden's decision. but this now really completes that humiliation because western forces are now going to be... i wouldn't say running away, but i know other people will be saying running away. they will be withdrawing under fire and the imagery and reality and the desperately sad situation for all those who are affected by it, i think, adds to the really terrible situation, but it will be exploited by our enemies and it will be exploited byjihadists everywhere, by russia and china, who are among the most pleased people this is

happening at the moment. wright, colonel richard _ happening at the moment. wright, colonel richard kemp, _ happening at the moment. wright, colonel richard kemp, thanks - happening at the moment. wright, colonel richard kemp, thanks for l colonel richard kemp, thanks for taking the time to speak to us live there from dubai. let's head straight back to washington. we wait still and i have said that for a number of hours, for that pentagon briefing. we bring you pictures from the white house and we expect comments from there. back to barbara plett usher now because in his last half hour, we have had confirmation from the pentagon that earlier they were talking about the casualties they are now talking about fatalities.— casualties they are now talking about fatalities. yes, that's right. mike pence _ about fatalities. yes, that's right. mike pence tweeted _ about fatalities. yes, that's right. mike pence tweeted that - about fatalities. yes, that's right. mike pence tweeted that there i about fatalities. yes, that's right. | mike pence tweeted that there are about fatalities. yes, that's right. i mike pence tweeted that there are a number of us personnel dead and another injured. he did not clarify how many there were, how many casualties there were, but us media have been reporting there are at least [i have been reporting there are at least 4 dead and 3 and possibly more injured. you know, matthew, this is exactly what the administration didn't want to happen because, of course, most of the casualties are

afghans, but for the administration they did not want to have americans wounded on this evacuation mission for, at least, partly because of the assessment of the political crisis, the americans have made very clear they don't want to have any more soldiers fighting and dying in afghanistan and that is one of the reasons why president biden decided to withdraw the troops and these troops sent back actually after pulling out to help with this very chaotic evacuation once the taliban had taken over, so this is bad news indeed, although not unexpected, as we know, because the administration has been warning for more than a week now about the possibility of an attack, especially with the clouds around the airport and especially as the evacuation nears its completion, talking about intelligence that there were threats from islamic state group and those getting very specific in the past day with the state departments and in that notice to american saying, stay away from these 3 gates. i to american saying, stay away from these 3 gates-— these 3 gates. i know it is very difficult, but — these 3 gates. i know it is very difficult, but what _ these 3 gates. i know it is very difficult, but what do - these 3 gates. i know it is very difficult, but what do you - these 3 gates. i know it is veryj difficult, but what do you think

these 3 gates. i know it is very i difficult, but what do you think is likely to be under consideration now for the last few days?— for the last few days? well, i think... initially, _ for the last few days? well, i think... initially, the - for the last few days? well, i think... initially, the military| for the last few days? well, i l think... initially, the military is going to be focused on securing, making sure the airport is secure because they will be worried about another tack. they will be questions about the evacuation. already... inaudible not everybody will go talbot wanted to get out perhaps that possibility will increase now and the focus will perhaps be very much making sure the americans get out. that has always been the priority, but i think it will become even more so now and there is obviously the question about whether the timeline might change, the deadline might be brought forward and so far though there has been no indication from there has been no indication from the white house that would be the case. there will will also be some discussion on how to respond. president biden had made a statement saying, there would be a swift and forceful response if the evacuation effort was attacked or disrupted. that was a statement directed at the

taliban, with whom the united states has this sort of untested and uneasy coordination. it is not clear if that would be the case with a terrorist group like islamic state, if indeed they carried it out, which has not been confirmed. mi if indeed they carried it out, which has not been confirmed.— has not been confirmed. all right, barbara plett _ has not been confirmed. all right, barbara plett usher, _ has not been confirmed. all right, barbara plett usher, thanks - has not been confirmed. all right, | barbara plett usher, thanks again, life in washington. barbara talking about those who could potentially be left behind and i have been is speaking to the truman security product, which is coordinating with some to help evacuate those afghan allies. �* , ., , some to help evacuate those afghan allies. �*, ., , . ., allies. here's what she said. what is unfolding _ allies. here's what she said. what is unfolding in _ allies. here's what she said. what is unfolding in afghanistan - allies. here's what she said. what is unfolding in afghanistan now. allies. here's what she said. what is unfolding in afghanistan now is| is unfolding in afghanistan now is what we had long feared would be the case and what the us embassy had won wasn't in fact quite imminent, so what we know is there are casualties on the ground and us servicemen have been reported as those amongst the casualties now. this is the islamic state sending a swift message to the taliban, if they cannot provide

security in the surroundings at the airport evacuation efforts, then us troops will have to do that. this airport evacuation efforts, then us troops will have to do that.- troops will have to do that. as you sa that troops will have to do that. as you say that now. _ troops will have to do that. as you say that now, you _ troops will have to do that. as you say that now, you realise - troops will have to do that. as you say that now, you realise just - troops will have to do that. as you say that now, you realise just how| say that now, you realise just how computer that effort must be. certainly, but the taliban made a commitment. the us has honoured their promise in all this, the taliban has not. there have been massive amounts of checkpoints and reported, the search is the taliban have conducted of... making passage to the airport enormously challenging during this environment. that needs to change stop the evacuation day the president has said it is august to 31st. the us has honoured that. the taliban needs to keep updates and of the bargain and the international community would do well to press for that. the taliban can secure the area outside of the airport. the us can do it for them if they can't, and now is the time. , ., ., , them if they can't, and now is the time. , ., ., ., time. even before today's attack, ou were time. even before today's attack, you were quoted _ time. even before today's attack, you were quoted in _ time. even before today's attack, you were quoted in a _ time. even before today's attack, you were quoted in a politico - time. even before today's attack, l you were quoted in a politico piece where you said, i don't think the president's rhetoric matches

conditions on the ground. just describe for me is what you see as the mismatch.— describe for me is what you see as the mismatch. president biden had committed to _ the mismatch. president biden had committed to the _ the mismatch. president biden had committed to the evacuation - the mismatch. president biden had committed to the evacuation of- the mismatch. president biden had committed to the evacuation of us| committed to the evacuation of us partners and allies, about 250,000 folks who are eligible for a special immigrant visa and access to safe passage in the united states as a result of having served and supported us service members throughout the 20 year conflict. it is now looking like two thirds of those folks will be left behind. conditions on the ground over the last 10 days have been far more chaotic than the president would have suggested. i think we have seen some of that language tempered in recent days as the images on the ground i test it is an enormously chaotic environment, but the numbers just don't add up, the matter is not there. it is in all likelihood possible that us members and american citizens will be left in the country, along with thousands and thousands of us partners and allies. . , w' , and thousands of us partners and allies. ., , , , �* allies. really quickly because we're out of time. _ allies. really quickly because we're out of time, just _ allies. really quickly because we're out of time, just tell _ allies. really quickly because we're out of time, just tell me _

allies. really quickly because we're out of time, just tell me some - allies. really quickly because we're out of time, just tell me some of l out of time, just tell me some of the stories that have most struck home to you in terms of the people you are dealing with on the ground, as they grapple the difficulties they are having in terms of trying to navigate and get themselves out of the country? the to navigate and get themselves out of the country?— to navigate and get themselves out of the country? the truman national security project _ of the country? the truman national security project members _ of the country? the truman national security project members around i of the country? the truman national| security project members around the country have worked tirelessly to bring family members, sig eligible applicants out, people they served alongside were getting text messages that say, you got me through. i am on a plane, i am safe, thanks to you. moving people to third country landing locations. those efforts will not stop, the 31st isn't our deadline and our efforts will continue. deadline and our efforts will continue-— deadline and our efforts will continue. ., , ., ., continue. that is almost it from the programme — continue. that is almost it from the programme on _ continue. that is almost it from the programme on the _ continue. that is almost it from the programme on the day _ continue. that is almost it from the programme on the day of _ continue. that is almost it from the programme on the day of those - continue. that is almost it from the | programme on the day of those twin blasts at kabul airport. the taliban are saying between 13—20 people have died, the pentagon confirming those include us deaths. we made for more details on that and —— must we wait for more details on no dozens of afghans have been caught up in these

blasts and injured as well, so what had been feared actually playing out at kabul airport today. ros atkins is here to take you through the next couple of hours. thank you and see you next time. it felt cooler today right across the board because he had a weak cold front sped southwards and introduce fresh air, and quite a bit of cloud in eastern areas, the best of the sunshine is out west. friday similar story, a lot of dry weather around, best of suntan in the west and walk eastern areas. this is the weak cold front which are spread south, right across the uk. as we head into this evening and overnight, we will all be in that cooler air mass. central and eastern areas will hold on to the cloud, which will tend to edge westwards, the extremities of western scotland, parts of northern ireland and western england and wales will see clearer skies. it could be quite cool here, temperatures in single figures, but for most with the cloud 10—13 c. for

friday a fairly fresh start to the day, a belt of cloud for central and eastern areas, a bit of sunshine across east and south—east into the afternoon, that tending to... the best of the sunshine northern and western areas again, here are light winds and see quite a breezy day in the eastern side of the country, so that will take the edge of the temperatures here, particularly on the north sea coast, mid to high teens, and in the warmer spots 20-22 c. for teens, and in the warmer spots 20—22 c. for the weekend, an area of high pressure still dominated, mainly dry, variable amounts of cloud and some good spells of sunshine as well. for the weekend, it looks like our area of high pressure will park itself to the north—west of the uk, so again more the reasoning south—east, and a cluster of showers in the near continent, a few of these could encroach into the far south—east of england into the afternoon and here it will be breezy with variable amounts of cloud, the best of the sunshine in the northern and western

areas with the lightest winds and the best temperatures at rest as well, 20 degrees or so, but again the high teens at the east. a similar story on sunday, most of the cloud across northern and eastern areas, quite a breeze blowing down the north sea coast there and some shelter in the west and best of the sunshine thereto, into the high teens where we have the cloud in the breeze. for monday it looks like a cloudy day generally, probably the best of the sunshine across northern and western areas, so temperatures perhaps just a little into the and western areas, so temperatures perhapsjust a little into the high teens for many, top temperature 22 degrees.

here on bbc news... twin bomb attacks at kabul airport with unconfirmed reports of at least 13 deaths — the explosions took place where the us have been stationed — and at a nearby hotel. at least one of the attacks was a suicide bombing — it's thought the dead includes children. the us government says at least four military personnel are among the dead — eyewitnesses describe a chaotic scene. people started running away and we got out. i saw at least 400 or 500 people there. the explosions were really powerful. people were hauled in the water. others were on the ground outside. we carried the wounded here on stretchers and my clothes are completely bloodied. it comes as thousands had still been gathering outside the airport — despite clear warnings of an imminent attack — and there are warnings

of more possible attacks — the uk says it will continue evacuation plans.