The situation in Kabul, Afghanistan continues to worsen with threat posed by the Islamic State (ISIS) increasing thus jeopardizing the ongoing evacuations efforts.
Two blasts and gunfire rocked the area outside Kabul airport on Thursday evening. Video shot by Afghan journalists showed dozens of bodies strewn around a canal on the edge of the airport. Corresponding reports indicate that an Islamic State suicide bomber killed 85 people, including 13 U.S. soldiers outside the gates of Kabul airport. Among those killed include 72 Afghans.
Taliban officials also confirmed that among the 72 Afghans killed included 28 of their members. However, Taliban spokesman later disputed that any of their members guarding the airport perimeter has been killed in the blasts.
The U.S. military sources confirmed that the attacks left 13 of its service members killed, vowing retribution against the Islamic State terrorist group. ISIS via its propaganda media claimed responsibility saying that on of its suicide bombers targeted “translators and collaborators with the American army”, noting the group was targeting the US and Taliban who they considered their enemies.
According to General Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, U.S. commanders were on alert for more attacks by Islamic State, including possibly rockets or car-bombs targeting the airport. He noted that they are prepared for any eventuality and that some intelligence was being shared with the Taliban and that “some attacks have been thwarted by them.”
U.S. forces are racing to complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan by an Aug. 31 deadline set by President Joe Biden, who says the United States had long ago achieved its original rationale for invading the country in 2001: to root out al Qaeda militants and prevent a repeat of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
The US President has ordered the Pentagon to plan how to strike ISIS-Khorasan, the Islamic State affiliate that claimed responsibility saying that ISIS-K won’t be forgiven
“We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay,” Biden said during televised comments from the White House.
Nearly 100,000 people have been evacuated in 12 days by the Western countries. But they acknowledge that thousands will be left behind when the last U.S. troops leave at the end of the month.
