The United States military carried out a drone attack on August 27 that killed an alleged "ISIS-K planner" in Afghanistan. The strike was in response to the suicide bombing on Thursday, August 26, that left 13 American soldiers and more than 170 Afghans dead. Initial reports suggest that this was a precision strike and that no civilians were harmed.
In an official Aug. 27 statement issued by U.S. Central Command Public Affairs, spokesman Captain Bill Urban said, "U.S. military forces conducted an over-the-horizon counterterrorism operation today against an ISIS-K planner. The unmanned airstrike occurred in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan. Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties."
Joe Biden (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
A Response?
Coming under much criticism for his lack of response to the Thursday terror attack, President Joe Biden will be keen to publicize the MQ-9 Reaper drone strike as a forceful retaliation. It remains unclear whether the target had any connection to the Kabul airport bombing, but sources say he was involved in the "future planning" of attacks. At least one report said he was traveling in a vehicle with one associate at the time of the drone strike, despite an official account claiming the ISIS member was the only individual killed in the attack.
In the wake of the Kabul tragedy, President Biden 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." This appears to be the first step in that response.
High Alert
The U.S. embassy office in Kabul has warned that all U.S. citizens "to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates." Apparently, there is credible intelligence that another attack is likely to occur. As the evacuation operation enters its final days, Americans stranded in the region will be making all efforts to gain entry to the airport, making it a prime spot and prime circumstance for a terrorist act.
A number of nations have already declared that they have cut short their evacuation efforts. With the U.S. troops now looking to leave ahead of the August 31 deadline, the transit of civilians will begin diminishing.
President Biden has yet to make a public statement on the drone strike. Liberty Nation will keep you updated as this story develops.
