Washington, Aug 27 (AP) President Joe Biden presided over a moment of silence for US service members on Thursday following attacks at the Kabul airport that killed at least 60 Afghans and 12 Americans.

Biden held his moment of silence for those in uniform during sombre remarks at the White House.

Also Read | Kabul Blasts: Joe Biden Meets US Top Officials as Twin Blasts Rock Afghanistan Capital City Amid Evacuations.

Suicide bombings and gunfire killed 11 Marines and one Navy medic - attacks the US is blaming on the local affiliate of the Islamic State. The American service members had been carrying out screenings at the gates of the airport, where thousands of Afghans have crowded in for nearly two weeks in hopes of an evacuation.

“These American service members who gave their lives - it's an overused word, but it's totally appropriate here - were heroes,” Biden said. (AP)

Also Read | Kabul Blasts: 2 Explosions Near Airport Rock Afghanistan Capital as Thousands Try to Flee Country After Taliban Takeover, At least 40 Dead; What We Know So Far.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)