The US carried out a drone attack on a “lieutenant” of the Islamic State in eastern Afghanistan on Friday , as reported by the US Army, a day after the terrorist attack outside the Kabul airport that ended with the lives of more than 170 people, including 13 American soldiers.
The unmanned aerial attack occurred in the Afghan province of Nangahar, reports AFP. “The first indications are that we have killed the target . We have no record of civilian casualties,” reads a statement, quoted by Reuters.
The US Central Command said they believe the individual was involved in planning attacks against his country in the Afghan capital, although it is unknown if he was specifically involved with the preparation of Thursday’s attacks , carried out by two suicide bombers. considered members of the IS, collects AP.
For its part, the US Embassy in Kabul urged its citizens “to avoid going to the [Kabul] airport and to avoid the airport gates” due to “security threats” at the facilities. “American citizens who are now at the Abbey Gate, east, north, or the door of the new Home Office should leave immediately, ” he stressed.
“He will hunt them down and make them pay”
Earlier, US President Joe Biden declared that his country “will not forgive” the perpetrators of the attacks and promised that “he will hunt them down and make them pay.” “May those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes [to] harm America (US), know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget . We will hunt them down and make them pay,” he declared during a speech from the White House.
In this context, the president said that he ordered to prepare attacks against leaders and targets of the Islamic State. In addition, he promised to approve an increase in his country’s military contingent in Afghanistan if necessary.
Kenneth McKenzie Jr., head of the US Central Command, said that despite the attacks, evacuations continue. ” The priority is to prevent further attacks, ” he said, lamenting that a “breach” has allowed the first terrorist to get very close to the US soldiers who were about to search him when he detonated his bomb.
Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban * movement, blamed the US for the situation that has occurred lately at the Kabul airport, when thousands of people rush to leave the Afghan territory. ” We regret, we really regret what has happened at the Kabul airport . For our part, we have taken steps to prevent these undesirable events,” he said during an interview
BREAKING: U.S. military forces conducted an over-the-horizon counterterrorism operation today against an ISIS-K planner, U.S. Central Command spokesperson says. “Initial indications are that we killed the target” and “we know of no civilian casualties.” https://t.co/AkfindxLsE
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 28, 2021