U.S. President Joe Biden comments on Afghanistan from the East Room of the White House in Washington on August 26, 2021.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
The U.S. military attacked Islamic State on Saturday and bombed an IS member in Afghanistan less than 48 hours after a devastating suicide bombing claimed by the group that killed up to 169 Afghans and 13 members. from the American service at Kabul airport.
The U.S. Central Command said the United States carried out a drone strike against a member of the Islamic State in Nangahar who was believed to be involved in planning attacks against the United States in Kabul. The strike killed one individual and the spokesman, Navy Captain William Urban, said they knew of no civilian casualties.
“U.S. military forces have today launched a counterterrorism operation against the horizon against an ISIS-K planner. The unmanned aerial vehicle attack took place in Nangahar province, Afghanistan. Early indications indicate that we killed the target. We do not know of any civilian casualties, “Urban said in a statement.
Biden authorized the drone strike and was ordered by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, said a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that have not yet been publicly announced.
It was unclear whether that person was specifically involved in Thursday’s suicide bombing at the gates of Kabul airport, where crowds of Afghans were desperately trying to enter as part of the country’s ongoing evacuation following the rapid capture. of the Taliban.
Two U.S. defense officials familiar with the strike told NBC News that the purpose of the drone strike was to go in a vehicle with an associate at the time of the strike and that they were driving in an isolated area. Officials told NBC News that the strike was carried out by an MQ-9 Reaper drone and ammunition selected for accuracy and to minimize civilian casualties.
The airstrike fulfilled the vow President Joe Biden made to the nation on Thursday when he said the perpetrators of the attack could not hide. “We will pursue you and make you pay,” he said. Pentagon leaders on Friday told reporters they were prepared for any retaliatory action the president ordered.
“We have options right there,” said Major General Hank Taylor, a member of the Pentagon’s joint staff.
The U.S. embassy in Kabul also issued a new security alert advising citizens to avoid the four doors of the airport.
“Because of security threats at Kabul airport, we continue to advise American citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates. It should leave immediately.”
Biden was warned on Friday that another terrorist attack in Kabul is “likely” a day after the suicide bombing.
The absolute warning from the president’s national security team came when the United States entered the last days of a month of military withdrawal from Afghanistan, on its way to meeting Biden’s deadline of 31 December. ‘August for his total withdrawal.
–Courtney Kube and CNBC of NBC News Riya Bhattacharjee i Christina Wilkie and NBC News contributed to this report.