Turkish defense minister conveys condolences to US counterpart

ANKARA

The Turkish national defense minister on Friday conveyed his condolences to his US counterpart over the phone following Thursday's deadly blasts outside the Kabul airport that killed at least 170 people, including 13 US soldiers, and wounded dozens of others.

"Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar held a phone call with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin, discussing the latest situation in Afghanistan," said a ministry statement.

Saying "both sides expressed their appreciation for the cooperation regarding the evacuation of citizens and personnel from Kabul Airport," the ministry added that Akar "conveyed his condolences for the US soldiers who lost their lives during the recent bomb attacks in Kabul."

The Taliban seized control of most of Afghanistan in recent lightning advances that captured Kabul on Aug. 15, forcing President Ashraf Ghani and other top officials to leave the country.

Compounding the already-escalating international crisis, two suicide bombers detonated bombs outside the Kabul airport on Thursday.

The terrorist organization Daesh/ISIS-K has claimed responsibility for the attacks.