Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As ordered by Acting Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, flags in American Samoa are flying at half-staff to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks that occurred early yesterday morning at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.

Talauega’s order, made through a memorandum dated Aug. 26th and released late yesterday afternoon by the Governor’s Office, is pursuant to a Proclamation by US President Joe Biden that the United States flag be flown at half-staff until sunset, Aug. 30th, “as a mark of respect for the U.S. service members and other victims killed in the terrorist attack” in the Kabul airport.

“As we reflect on the loss of life and impact on the affected survivors, let us take a moment to be grateful for the Lord’s continued protection and blessings on our territory,” Talauega said.

In a statement released by the White House, President Biden said the intelligence community has assessed that the attack was carried out by a “group known as ISIS-K — [and] took the lives of American service members standing guard at the airport, and wounded several others seriously.  They also wounded a number of civilians, and civilians were killed as well.” (Details of the President’s statement on website - www.whitehouse.gov)

In an emotional address to the nation after the attacks, Biden declared to the extremists responsible: “We will hunt you down and make you pay,” according to The Associated Press and other international news outlets.

As of this morning, Friday, international news reports quotes the U.S. saying that 13 American troops were killed in the terrorist attack.