Vice President Harris, the Democrat nominee for president, marked the third anniversary of the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport, when 13 U.S. service members were killed.
“Today and everyday, I mourn and honor them. My prayers are with their families and loved ones. My heart breaks for their pain and their loss. These 13 devoted patriots represent the best of America, putting our beloved nation and their fellow Americans above themselves and deploying into danger to keep their fellow citizens safe,” she said in a statement.
She named the 13 service members and said she is also thinking about the service members who died in Afghanistan over the duration of the war.
Harris also backed President Biden’s decision to withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it the right decision.
“As I have said, President Biden made the courageous and right decision to end America’s longest war. Over the past three years, our Administration has demonstrated we can still eliminate terrorists, including the leaders of al-Qaeda and ISIS, without troops deployed into combat zones. I will never hesitate to take whatever action necessary to counter terrorist threats and protect the American people and the homeland,” she said.
The Afghanistan withdrawal was one of Biden’s first major foreign policy moves as president, but it proved to be one of the most tumultuous with the Taliban once again having swiftly taking over Kabul.
Republicans have continued to criticize him and his administration over the handling of the exit. The troops died when a bomb went off at the airport as U.S. forces were working to evacuate thousands of U.S. citizens and Afghan civilians.
Harris has been hit with criticism over the withdrawal on the campaign trail as Republicans will work to associate and blame her for any shortcomings of the Biden administration.
On Monday, former President Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery to mark the anniversary, seeking to turn the chaotic pullout against Harris. He was joined by family members of the service members, some of whom also spoke at the Republican National Convention.
Biden also mourned the troops on Monday, reinstating a commitment to preventing future terrorist attacks and disrupting terrorist activities.