The grieving father of a Marine killed in the Kabul airport attack has said President Biden “turned his back” on his son.
Kareem Nikoui was one of at least 13 US service members who died when a suicide bomb exploded on Thursday.
Max Soviak, Rylee McCollum and David Espinoza have also been identified among the fallen, who were all helping to evacuate the airport.
Steve Nikoui, Kareem’s father, said on Friday how angry he is about how his son lost his life.
“They sent my son over there as a paper pusher and then had the Taliban outside providing security,” he told the Daily Beast.
“I blame my own military leaders… Biden turned his back on him. That’s it.”
At least 90 people in total died in the devastating incident, which took place as thousands queued to flee Afghanistan.
Tributes have been paid to the other service members who lost their lives.
US Navy medic Mr Soviak, aged in his 20s, was described as “beautiful” and “intelligent” by family in an online post.
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His sister Marilyn said on Instagram: “I’ve never been one for politics and i’m not going to start now.
“What I will say is that my beautiful, intelligent, beat-to-the-sound of his own drum, annoying, charming baby brother was killed yesterday helping to save lives.
“He was a f****** medic. There to help people. And now he is gone and my family will never be the same.
“There is a large Maxton sized hole that will never be filled. He was just a kid. We are sending kids over there to die.
Kids with families that now have holes just like ours. i’m not one for praying but damn could those kids over there use some right now.
“My heart is in pieces and I don’t think they’ll ever fit back right again.”
According to 19News, Mr Soviak, from Sandusky, Ohio, was a 2017 graduate of Edison High School.
In a tribute, the local schools superintendent Thomas Roth said: “Max was full of life in everything he did.
Ohio Ammax Sobiak, who graduated from Edison High School in 2017, was killed in Afghanistan in an attack at Kabul Airport.
Mr Soviak was a 2017 graduate of Edison High School, reports say
“Our schools and local community are mourning the loss of Max. He and his family are in all of our thoughts and prayers.”
The US Navy has yet to confirm the identity.
Mr McCollum, a Marine, was named by Wyoming Schools superintendent Jillian Balow.
“Saying that I am grateful for Rylee’s service to our country does not begin to encapsulate the grief and sadness I feel today as a mother and as an American,” Balow said.
“My heart and prayers are with Rylee’s family, friends, and the entire Jackson community.
“We will find many ways to honour Rylee for this ultimate and untimely sacrifice in the coming months and years – but for now, my arms are wrapped around Rylee’s loved ones from afar and I pray they find some comfort.”
In a tweet, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon identified McCollum as from Bondurant, a tiny community about 45 minutes from Jackson.
“I’m devastated to learn Wyoming lost one of our own in yesterday’s terrorist attack in Kabul,” Gordon said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Rylee McCollum of Bondurant. Jennie and I, along with all of Wyoming and the entire country thank Rylee for his service.”
The Pentagon said on Friday that it believed the deadly attack in was carried out by a single suicide bomber at a gate to the airport.
DailyMirror
