[ad_1]
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 USA navy 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 mentioned the U.S. carried out a drone strike towards an Islamic State member in Nangahar believed to be concerned in planning assaults towards the U.S. in Kabul. The strike killed one particular person, and spokesman Navy Capt. William City mentioned they knew of no civilian casualties.
“U.S. navy forces carried out an over-the-horizon counterterrorism operation at the moment towards an ISIS-Okay 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 mentioned in his assertion.
Biden approved the drone strike and it was ordered by Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin, a protection official mentioned, 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 outdoors the gates of the Kabul airport, the place crowds of Afghans have been desperately attempting to get in as a part of the continuing evacuation from the nation after the Taliban’s speedy takeover.
Two U.S. protection officers accustomed to the strike instructed NBC Information that the goal of the drone strike was using 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 with a view to decrease any civilian casualties.
The airstrike fulfilled a vow President Joe Biden made to the nation Thursday when he mentioned the perpetrators of the assault wouldn’t be capable to cover. “We are going to hunt you down and make you pay,” he mentioned. Pentagon leaders instructed reporters Friday that they have been ready for no matter retaliatory motion the president ordered.
“Now we have choices there proper now,” mentioned Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor of the Pentagon’s Joint Employees.
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 “doubtless,” in the future after the suicide bombing.
The stark warning from the president’s nationwide safety workforce got here as the US entered the ultimate days of a monthslong navy withdrawal from Afghanistan, on observe to fulfill 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.
[ad_2]
Source link