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A series of attacks outside of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, killed 10 Marines on Thursday, the Marine Corps confirmed.

Thirteen U.S. troops in total were killed, according to U.S. officials. One Navy corpsman was killed in the attack, The Associated Press reported, and a defense official told Military Times that a soldier was killed. Confirmation of the branch of the final service member was still pending Thursday evening.

Several Marines were wounded in the attack, Maj. Jim Stenger, a Headquarters Marine Corps spokesman, said in an emailed statement Thursday evening.

"Freedom comes at a cost," Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger said Thursday afternoon before a Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Navy Cross ceremony. Marine Raider Staff Sgt. Nicholas J. Jones was honored for his heroic actions fighting ISIS in Iraq on March 8, 2020.

"The next hours ... will be chaotic, will be tough for those units, for those families, I think the best that we can do from where we sit here in North Carolina is send them our prayers."

The families of the Marines killed are currently being informed and their names and units will be released 24 hours after all the families are notified, Stenger said.

"We mourn the loss of these Marines and pray for their families," Stenger said in the statement.

There were more than 2,000 Marines in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday. They recently had been rushed to the airport to aid in the evacuation of U.S. citizens and Afghans attempting to flee the country as the Taliban quickly conquered the nation before a U.S. troop withdrawal deadline of Aug. 31.

The attack began when an ISIS suicide bomber approached a group of Marines outside the Abbey gate, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, CENTCOM commander, told reporters Thursday.

Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to the airport, The Associated Press reported. The attacks killed at least 60 Afghans.

The Marines mostly come from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Central Command.

The attack was one of the deadliest on U.S. forces in the 20-year history of the war in Afghanistan.

Only the 2005 Operation Red Wings, which resulted in 17 deaths, and the 2011 the shooting down of Extortion 17, a CH-47D Chinook, which killed 30 service members, resulted in more deaths.

The Marines were the first Marines killed in any combat operations since the March 2020 deaths of Marine Raiders Capt. Moises A. Navas and Gunnery Sgt. Diego Pongo.

Navas and Pongo died while clearing caves of ISIS fighters in northern Iraq. They were working alongside Iraqi security forces and French special operators.

Marine Raider Staff Sgt. Nicholas J. Jones was awarded the Navy Cross Thursday for his actions in that fight that saved the life of a French operator.

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Troy Black tweeted out a statement expressing his condolences for the Marines who died Thursday.

"Though their loss was in great service to our Nation, I join every Marine and Sailor who vows to carry on their legacy and remember their sacrifice," Black said.

Berger said in a statement, "These fallen heroes answered the call to go into harm's way to do the honorable work of helping others. We are proud of their service and deeply saddened by their loss."

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'Freedom comes at a cost,' Marine commandant says after 13 troops killed in Afghanistan

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A series of attacks outside of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, killed 10 Marines on Thursday, the Marine Corps confirmed. Thirteen U.S. troops in total were killed, according to U.S. officials. One Navy corpsman was killed in the attack, The Associated Press reported, and a defense official told Military Times that a soldier was killed.

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This week, the world watched as the Taliban seized back control of Afghanistan's capital. Many people are experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, ranging from anger to disappointment in response to the collapse of the Afghan government. But the news is even more disheartening for veterans.

Cristian Garcerant served in Afghanistan from 2013 to 2014 to "help civilians in a rough situation." As the rest of us saw images and videos on the news, Garcerant was reminded of real and all-too-familiar places now overrun by the Taliban.

"To see all your hard work destroyed in front of you is sad. It's frustrating. It's a sense of dejection, and you just don't know what to do," Garcerant says. "It makes me feel like my work was all for nothing."
'Were all of our sacrifices wasted?':War veterans react to stunning Afghanistan collapse
Ron Acierno, a professor and vice chair of Veterans Affairs in psychiatry at UTHealth Houston, says that sentiment is shared by many veterans who have been reminded this week of their own sacrifices abroad.

"They're going to have to question, 'Why were we there risking our lives, getting injured and losing brothers in arms if we're just going to walk away and let the exact people we fought take over, unopposed?'" he says. "All the accomplishments that were made because of their efforts, including women's rights and construction of infrastructure, now may be lost or handed to the enemy. So it's understandable one would be frustrated."
Original story: After two decades and billions spent, Afghan government collapses as Taliban takes Kabul
Our instinct may be to check in with the veterans in our lives in an effort to talk to them about how they are feeling , but doing so can be triggering, and experts say it's important to be mindful of how you approach a topic that may be a source of trauma, anxiety or PTSD.

Is it appropriate to ask veterans to talk about the fall of Afghanistan?

Experts say reaching out and giving veterans an opportunity to talk about their feelings right now "can make all the difference in the world." Acierno suggests broaching the subject with a general question to see how your loved one is doing.

"It can be simple. 'Hey, how are you doing with everything going on?' is a good opening," he says. "It doesn't have to be specific (about Afghanistan). People will know what you're talking about."

Michael David Rudd, a psychologist and veteran of the Gulf War, encourages people to emphasize that they're here to support veterans and are available to talk about whatever they'd like to share.

"Let veterans know that you care for them and remind them that the commitments they honored and the sacrifices they made are meaningful, despite what's going on in Afghanistan," he says.

But checking in doesn't always warrant a response. Though Garcerant said he appreciated when his friends reached out, he didn't always feel like he wanted to engage.

"Everyone should reach out, but don't be surprised if (veterans) don't want to talk about it," he says. "When you bring up any sort of traumatic experience, many will either talk all about it or shut it out completely. So just respect that boundary, and respectfully ask them what they feel about the situation."
Video: US Veteran reacts to Taliban toppling Afghanistan
Rudd says processing the news is more difficult for those who served in Afghanistan.

Don't get political. Every veteran is different, but Garcerant says he prefers to leave political opinions out of the conversation and avoid blaming political parties or figures. "For a lot of us, it's a real sensitive subject. A lot of us have lost our friends over there. To sit there and make it a political game is insulting."

Don't assume you know what they're going through. Acierno says it's important to avoid acting as if you know how a veteran is feeling, because "if you haven't been there, it's going to be difficult to know what they're going through." Garcerant adds the best thing to do is just listen, because "a lot of us are heavily and mentally invested in what's going on in Afghanistan."

Avoid asking specific questions about their experience. It's important to avoid triggering any trauma, and that includes questions about veterans' experiences in Afghanistan. Garcerant advises, "Don't ask, 'What did you do over there?' That's when people will often shut themselves down."

"One of the things that is really important is to be able to talk through it and make sense of it, and that takes time. That doesn't happen quickly," Rudd says. "So it's reassuring to hear from those who love them that they are here to support them through this."

What topics to avoid

There's a stark difference between being considerate and being intrusive. Be careful in your approach and avoid these pitfalls:

Where veterans can get help
An in-depth story about survival: Mental health: Contributing: Donovan Slack Veterans wanted out of Afghanistan, but sudden collapse brings mental health to light Suicide never entered his mind. Then 9/11 happened.
According to a Brown University study published this summer, Afghanistan war veterans and those who served after 9/11 have a greater risk of suicide than veterans from decades before. The overall suicide rate for veterans is 1.5 times the rate for civilians, and it's even higher for those who served after 9/11 (2.5 times that of all civilians).

Service members and veterans who are in crisis or are having thoughts of suicide and those who know a service member or veteran in crisis can call the Military Crisis Line/ Veterans Crisis Line for confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, text 838255 or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

"Our vet centers stand ready to assist our veterans, especially our post-9/11 and Afghanistan war veterans, during this time seek the counseling services or resources they may require," VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes said Monday.

Dig deeper with subscriber-only journalism:

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What you should (and shouldn't) say to Afghanistan war veterans right now

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This week, the world watched as the Taliban seized back control of Afghanistan's capital. Many people are experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, ranging from anger to disappointment in response to the collapse of the Afghan government. But the news is even more disheartening for veterans.

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By Robert Preidt
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Many U.S. veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars aren't getting needed mental health treatment for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or substance abuse, a national panel of experts says.

Female vets may be at special risk of missing out on services, the report found.

The survey found that about half of all veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts who may require mental health care do not use U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or non-VA services, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

The congressionally mandated report cites two primary reasons for this gap: The VA does not have sufficient resources, or veterans don't know how to access VA mental health care.

"The VA needs to make high-quality mental health care consistently and predictably available at every facility for all veterans," said report committee chair Alicia Carriquiry in a National Academies news release.

The panel recommended that the VA aim to become "a reliable provider of high-quality mental health care services" within three to five years.

The good news: The VA provides mental health care that's comparable or better than care offered by private and non-VA public providers, according to the report. But it also says there is significant variation in accessibility and quality of services across the VA health system.

That leaves many of the 4 million U.S. service members who've been in Afghanistan or Iraq without required mental health services.

The survey also found that more than half of veterans who screened positive for a mental health problem did not believe they needed mental health treatment.

For those who could use VA mental health care but haven't sought it, the report cites lack of awareness as a key reason: They don't know how to apply for VA mental health care benefits; they are unsure whether they are eligible; or they are unaware that VA offers these benefits.

Compared to men, women veterans are much more likely to believe they are not entitled to VA mental health services, according to the report.

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VA System Failing on Mental Health Care: Report

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By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Many U.S. veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars aren't getting needed mental health treatment for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or substance abuse, a national panel of experts says.

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Social Work - Department of Veterans Affairs

The Veterans Health Administration stands out as an agency that values the role of social work in veteran-centered care. This is evident by the vast roles social workers hold throughout the system. While providing counseling, therapy, supportive services, and case management to veterans, they also serve as a vital team member in a system that relies heavily on the interdisciplinary model.

To maximize one's health, we must address each barrier faced and all strengths our veterans possess. The social worker is depended upon to provide insight to the team on the specific psychosocial factors that can assist the patient achieve optimal care outcomes. The Veterans Health Administration has added many new and exciting programs to the already immense system in place to care for our nation's veterans. The VA is expanding it's scope to not only treat medical and mental health concerns, but it is also increasing its efforts to tackle housing, legal issues, caregiver support, and community planning. The continuity of care within the VA system is truly all-encompassing.

You will find social workers in all program areas in VA medical centers who are ready to help you with most any need. If you have questions or problems, the social worker will be able to help you or can refer you to the right person for help.

Social Workers provide a variety of services within the VA System and the community, these include but are not limited to the following:

Information linkage and referral

Discharge planning

Outreach to homeless veterans

Counseling and psychotherapy

Case management

Financial Assistance referral

Housing and community living options

Assessment treatment of substance abuse problems

Advance Directives, mental health preferences, and long term term planning.

About VHA Social Work

Social Workers provide evaluative, preventive, therapeutic, restorative, and personal care services for Veterans. They help Veterans find resources to meet their needs within the VA system or in their community.
Social work offers counseling for:

Veterans with drug, alcohol, and emotional problems

Veterans and their families to understand and adjust to an illness or disability

Veterans and family members who want to prepare advance directives and durable powers of attorney for health care or finances

Veterans and their families to cope with terminal illness

Family members about legal issues such as commitment and guardianship

Case Management assistance for in-hmoe care, financial benefits and resources, community living, etc.

Areas Social Workers Serve:

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social work - department of veterans affairs

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The Veterans Health Administration stands out as an agency that values the role of social work in veteran-centered care. This is evident by the vast roles social workers hold throughout the system. While providing counseling, therapy, supportive services, and case management to veterans, they also serve as a vital team member in a system that relies heavily on the interdisciplinary model.

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This new law expands and extends eligibility for care and benefits for Veterans and survivors related to toxic exposures.