Is leader of ISIS-K dead? Pentagon claims drone attack killed 'target'
A day after a suicide blast in Kabul airport claimed the lives of 170 Afghans and 13 US troops, the Pentagon has announced that they have carried out a drone strike to eliminate the attack mastermind. The responsibility for the blast was claimed by ISIS-K, a faction of Islamic State operational in Afghanistan and who share a bitter relationship with the Taliban. According to the US Central Command, the drone strike was executed in Nangahar province in eastern Afghanistan, which was reportedly an ISIS-K stronghold.
The strike was approved by US President Joe Biden, who appeared visibly emotional while addressing the media after the airport blast. He also vowed to "make them pay" for the terrorist attack and it appears he has acted accordingly. Navy Captain William Urban said that there were no civilian casualties as the strike killed only one individual, who is believed to be the planner of the airport bombing. "US military conducted an over-the-horizon counterterrorism operation today against an ISIS-K planner. The unmanned airstrike occurred in the Nangahar Province of Afghanistan. Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties," Urban said.
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Though it is being speculated that the target killed was the mastermind behind the August 26 blast, the confirmation is yet to be ascertained. Hours before the suicide attack, US intel predicted something similar and issued a warning to stranded US citizens to get away from the vicinity of Kabul airport. Later, on Friday evening, the State Department issued another warning, "U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey gate, East gate, North gate or the New Ministry of Interior gate now should leave immediately."
Following his August 26 address to the nation, President Joe Biden ordered the drone strike as he promised, "We will hunt you down and make you pay."
"Every day we're on the ground is another day that we know ISIS-K seeking to target the airport and attack both U.S. and allied forces and innocent civilians. We are currently on pace to finish by August the 31st. The sooner we finish, the better. Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops," the President had previously said.
The ISIS-K was formed in 2015 by Islamic State to establish their control over provinces of Afghanistan. The Khorasan province and other regions have long been the bones of contention between the Taliban and ISKP, formed in January 2015. It is majorly constituted by defectors from Taliban who lost their trust in the top leadership to overthrow US military control. Soon afterward, they announced the formation of ISIS-K and have procured hefty funds to Afghanistan since then.
In January 4, 2016, US State Department declared ISIS-K as a Foreign Terror Organization. Since then, the Jihadist group has carried out several terror attacks across the country. Meanwhile, they have also fought with the Taliban over the possession of the land. As per latest reports, there are over 20,000 ISIS-K militants in Afghanistan.
One airstrike is unlikely to eliminate an entire terrorist faction, however, the prompt "payback" from the US might thwart group's plans to unleash further terror on the Taliban-dominated country.