The US military announced on Friday that a drone attack had been carried out on a "planner" of the Islamic State-Khorasan, the group that claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide bombings at the Kabul airport.
Two explosions took place on August 26 outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul that killed over 100 people including 13 US troops. Following the bombings, US President Joe Biden had said, “To those who carried out this attack as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay.”
"The unmanned airstrike took place in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province. Initial indications are that we killed the target," said Central Command's Captain Bill Urban. He added, "We know of no civilian casualties."
According to the official, a reaper drone launched from the Middle East hit the militant when he was in a car with an Islamic State associate. Both are believed to have been slain.
The attacks came just two days after the Taliban has warned the US of ‘consequences' if their evacuation plan is ‘prolonged beyond its deadline’. America's withdrawal deadline is August 31. However, the bombings were carried out by ISIS-K, the group that condemns the Taliban- US agreement.
Also Read: Kabul blast death toll rises to 110; Britain says evacuation to be over in ‘matter of hours’
Many countries were obliged to halt their evacuation operations due to the mounting threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Biden stated that the US's evacuation operation in Afghanistan will not be halted.
Who is ISIS-K?
ISIS-K is an ally of the Islamic State in Central Asia, to be more accurate with the name - Islamic State Khorasan Province. In 2014, Islamic State fighters spread throughout Syria and Iraq, followed by the establishment of ISIS-K in 2015. In this organization, 'Khorasan' is actually a province of Afghanistan that covers most of Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia. It is also known as ISK or ISIS-K.
ISIS-K is developing into one of the world's deadliest terrorist threats as, despite the 20 long year fight against terrorism initiated by the US and NATO, it not only managed to save its existence but is still capable of carrying out devastating attacks.
It is the most radical and violent of all the jihadist militant groups operating in Afghanistan.
ISIS-K recruits from both Afghan and Pakistani jihadists, particularly those Afghan Taliban members who are leaving the organisation believing it not to be extreme enough.