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U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks about Afghanistan, from the East Room of the White Home in Washington, August 26, 2021.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
The US army struck again on the Islamic State on Saturday, bombing an IS member in Afghanistan lower than 48 hours after a devastating suicide bombing claimed by the group killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members on the Kabul airport.
U.S. Central Command stated the U.S. performed a drone strike in opposition to an Islamic State member in Nangahar believed to be concerned in planning assaults in opposition to the U.S. in Kabul. The strike killed one particular person, and spokesman Navy Capt. William City stated they knew of no civilian casualties.
“U.S. army forces performed an over-the-horizon counterterrorism operation as we speak in opposition to an ISIS-Ok planner. The unmanned airstrike occurred within the Nangahar Province of Afghanistan. Preliminary indications are that we killed the goal. We all know of no civilian casualties,” City stated in his assertion.
Biden approved the drone strike and it was ordered by Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin, a protection official stated, talking on situation of anonymity to supply particulars not but publicly introduced.
It wasn’t clear if that particular person was concerned particularly within the Thursday suicide blast exterior the gates of the Kabul airport, the place crowds of Afghans have been desperately attempting to get in as a part of the continued evacuation from the nation after the Taliban’s fast takeover.
Two U.S. protection officers accustomed to the strike instructed NBC Information that the goal of the drone strike was driving in a car with an affiliate on the time of the strike, and that they have been driving in an remoted space. The officers instructed NBC Information the strike was carried out by an MQ-9 Reaper drone and munitions that have been chosen for precision and in an effort to reduce any civilian casualties.
The airstrike fulfilled a vow President Joe Biden made to the nation Thursday when he stated the perpetrators of the assault wouldn’t have the ability to disguise. “We are going to hunt you down and make you pay,” he stated. Pentagon leaders instructed reporters Friday that they have been ready for no matter retaliatory motion the president ordered.
“We now have choices there proper now,” stated Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor of the Pentagon’s Joint Workers.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul additionally issued a brand new safety alert advising residents to keep away from 4 airport gates.
“Due to safety threats on the Kabul airport, we proceed to advise U.S. residents to keep away from touring to the airport and to keep away from airport gates. U.S. residents who’re on the Abbey gate, East gate, North gate or the New Ministry of Inside gate now ought to go away instantly.”
Biden was warned Friday that one other terror assault in Kabul is “possible,” at some point after the suicide bombing.
The stark warning from the president’s nationwide safety workforce got here as the USA entered the ultimate days of a monthslong army withdrawal from Afghanistan, on monitor to satisfy Biden’s Aug. 31 deadline for a full withdrawal.
—NBC Information’ Courtney Kube and CNBC’s Riya Bhattacharjee and Christina Wilkie and NBC Information contributed to this report.
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