U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday attended a ceremony at a military base in his home state of Delaware where the remains of 13 troops killed in Afghanistan last week were returned to the U.S. soil.

Biden was joined at Dover Air Force Base by first lady Jill Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley and other senior military officials. 

The president and first lady met privately with the families of the fallen before flag-draped cases carrying 11 service members' remains were loaded into vans. The sounds of crying could be heard and one woman collapsed and was taken to an ambulance. 

The remains of two other fallen U.S. service members were being brought home privately at the request of their families. 

The 13 U.S. troops were killed in a suicide bombing attack near the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul last week as U.S. forces were working to evacuate Americans and allies from Afghanistan.

"The 13 service members that we lost were heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others," Biden said in a statement Saturday. "Their bravery and selflessness has enabled more than 117,000 people at risk to reach safety thus far."

The White House said on Saturday that around 111,900 people had left Afghanistan since August 14. The U.S. pullout from Afghanistan is set to complete by August 31.

(With input from agencies)