Biden receives bodies of 11 of 13 service members killed in Kabul airport attack

The president and first lady arrived at Dover Air Force Base on Sunday

President Biden traveled to Dover Air Force Base Sunday morning to receive the bodies of 13 American service members who were killed in an attack at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.

The president and first lady Jill Biden were both greeted by Col. William C. McDonald, Vice Commander of the 89th Airlift Wing; Sarah Husemann, wife of Col. Matthew S. Husemann, Commander, 436th Airlift Wing; and Col. Chip W. Hollinger, commander of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force Base.

THESE ARE THE US SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN THE KABUL AIRPORT ATTACK

Eleven Marines, one Army soldier and a Navy corpsman died in a suicide bombing outside Hamid Karzai International Airport on Thursday. The ISIS-K group claimed responsibility for the attack seeking to disrupt the massive evacuation effort of Americans, Afghan allies, and third-party nationals outside the U.S.-held airport.

The fallen service members are Marines Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, Lance Cp. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Navy Hospitalman Max Soviak, and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss.

A Navy carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, during a casualty return at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Soviak died in an attack at Afghanistan's Kabul airport, along with 12 other U.S. service members supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

US President Joe Biden(C) attends the dignified transfer of the remains of a fallen service member at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, August, 29, 2021, one of the 13 members of the US military killed in Afghanistan last week. - President Joe Biden prepared Sunday at a US military base to receive the remains of the 13 American service members killed in an attack in Kabul, a solemn ritual that comes amid fierce criticism of his handling of the Afghanistan crisis. Biden and his wife, Jill, both wearing black and with black face masks, first met far from the cameras with relatives of the dead in a special family center at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.The base, on the US East Coast about two hours from Washington, is synonymous with the painful return of service members who have fallen in combat. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

President Biden salutes during the dignified transfer of the remains of U.S. Military service members who were killed by a suicide bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, Aug. 29, 2021. REUTERS/Tom Brenner (REUTERS/Tom Brenner)

President Biden hands challenge coins to the members of the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard before boarding Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, Aug. 29, 2021. REUTERS/Tom Brenner (REUTERS/Tom Brenner)

President Joe Biden salutes as first lady Jill Biden looks on from the stairs of Air Force One before boarding at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., for a trip to Dover Air Force Base, Del., Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez) (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

The attack took place as U.S. forces were working to evacuate Americans and allies from Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of the country earlier this month. At the same time, they have been working to ensure their own withdrawal by the end of the month.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

According to the White House, the U.S. has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of roughly 114,400 people since August 14.

Fox News' Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

Load more..