Pentagon Says US Drone Strike Killed ‘ISIS-K Planner’ In Afghanistan
The Pentagon said on Friday that the alleged ‘ISIS-K planner’ of the recent attacks at the Kabul airport that left 13 US servicemen and 70 Afghans dead, has been taken down by a US military drone strike.
US Central Command Spokesman Captain Bill Urban said “US military forces conducted an over-the-horizon counterterrorism operation against an ISIS-K planner.”
“The unmanned air strike occurred in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan. Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties,” Urban said in an interview.
Fox News said it was able to confirm later on that the said drone “hit a vehicle carrying an ISIS-K leader” said to be plotting “future attacks” against the United States.
BREAKING: U.S. forces conducted a drone strike against an 'ISIS-K planner' in Nangahar Province in eastern Afghanistan. "Initial indications are that we killed the target," Pentagon says
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) August 28, 2021
“BREAKING: US forces conducted a drone strike against an ISIS-K planner in Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan. “Initial indications are that we killed the target,” Pentagon says,” tweeted Lucas Tomlinson, who covers the Pentagon for Fox News.
U.S. Reaper drone flew to Afghanistan from a base in the Middle East a few hours ago to kill the ISIS-K 'planner' who was plotting 'future attacks' on U.S. forces in Kabul. The ISIS-K planner was killed while driving in a vehicle along with an 'associate,' official says.
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) August 28, 2021
“[A] US Reaper drone flew to Afghanistan from a base in the Middle East a few hours ago to kill the ISIS-K ‘planner’ who was plotting ‘future attacks’ on US forces in Kabul. The ISIS-K planner was killed while driving in a vehicle along with an ‘associate,’ official says.”
U.S. intelligence believes ISIS-K wants to carry out additional suicide attacks against U.S. forces ahead of their departure in the coming days. 5,000 American troops remain at the Kabul airport.
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) August 28, 2021
More attacks against US forces in Kabul
Tomlinson noted that according to the Pentagon, the ISIS-K — who claimed responsibility for Thursday’s blast near the Hamid Karzai International Airport — are carrying more future attacks.
“US intelligence believes ISIS-K wants to carry out additional suicide attacks against US forces ahead of their departure in the coming days. 5,000 American troops remain at the Kabul airport.”
Fox News said, however, that “it’s not clear if the planner was involved in the suicide attack at the Kabul airport Thursday, which killed 13 US service members and wounded 20 others.”
The drone strike reportedly took place near the border with Pakistan.
The assault comes a day after ISIS-K claimed they are behind the suicide bombing that shook the outside perimeter of the Kabul airport, where hundreds of Americans and Afghans have been rushing to flee Afghanistan.
President Joe Biden and his administration have been severely criticized for the unfolding debacle in Afghanistan — with calls for his impeachment or resignation growing after the deaths of US servicemen in what is now tagged as the deadliest day of conflict since 2011.
A number of Republican lawmakers have also called for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to step down, with the first articles of impeachment introduced Friday.
State Department responds to calls for Blinken’s resignation
In a response to such calls, the State Department said Blinken remains committed and is focused on Afghanistan evacuation efforts.
“Blinken is focused on one thing and one thing only: the evacuation of American citizens and our allies and partners,” spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.
The public outrage over the Biden administration’s messy withdrawal in Afghanistan was further triggered by reports that US officials gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens and Afghan allies it wanted to evacuate.
President Biden, you yourself said ‘The Buck stops here.’ Do the American people a favor. Resign and turn the job over to someone who can handle it.
My full statement:https://t.co/skfoLM0Kt7
— Congressman Tom Rice (@RepTomRice) August 26, 2021
This move was strongly criticized by the public after reports that Talibans are also hunting Afghans with ties with the US and NATO forces during the 20-year war in the country.
But the Biden administration earlier deemed it necessary to speed up the evacuation process in Afghanistan ahead of the August 31 deadline to completely pull out US forces.
Even Democratic lawmakers have blasted Biden’s actions.
“Although it is clear to me that we could not continue to put American service members in danger for an unwinnable war, I also believe that the evacuation process appears to have been egregiously mishandled,” Rep. Susan Wild (Pennsylvania) said.
I am devastated at the loss of U.S. servicemembers and Afghan civilians in today’s horrific attack, and I’m thinking of their families. Our country feels their grief, and we will never forget their loved ones' sacrifices. 1/3
— Rep. Susan Wild (@RepSusanWild) August 26, 2021
“In order to move forward, we need answers and accountability regarding the cascading failures that led us to this moment,” the Democratic lawmaker argued.
Although it is clear to me that we could not continue to put American servicemembers in danger for an unwinnable war, I also believe that the evacuation process appears to have been egregiously mishandled. 2/3
— Rep. Susan Wild (@RepSusanWild) August 26, 2021
