A screen grab shows an emergency vehicle as people arrive at a hospital after an attack at Kabul airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan August 26, 2021. (REUTERS TV/via REUTERS)
CAIRO/WASHINGTON – U.S. military commanders vowed to “go after” Islamic State following Thursday’s suicide bomb attack on Kabul airport claimed by the militant group, even as U.S. forces continued evacuations from Afghanistan.
“The attack on the Abbey gate was followed by a number of ISIS gunmen who opened fire on civilians and military forces,” Marine General Frank McKenzie of U.S. Central Command told reporters at the Pentagon.
Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), an affiliate of militants who previously battled U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed dozens of people – including Afghans who were trying to leave the country and at least a dozen U.S. service members.
In claiming responsibility, Islamic State said a suicide bomber “managed to reach a large gathering of translators and collaborators with the American army at ‘Baran Camp’ near Kabul Airport and detonated his explosive belt among them, killing about 60 people and wounding more than 100 others, including Taliban fighters.”
A Taliban official told Reuters the group arrested an ISIS fighter at the airport a few days ago and under interrogation he told them about plans for attacks. In response, the Taliban said it postponed gatherings in public places and advised its top leaders not to gather.
ISIS-K is a sworn enemy of the Taliban. But U.S. intelligence officials believe the movement used the instability that led to the collapse of Afghanistan’s Western-backed government this month to strengthen its position and step up recruitment of disenfranchised Taliban members.
‘NOBLE MISSION’
McKenzie vowed that evacuations would continue. Thousands of U.S. troops have deployed to Kabul’s airport to conduct a massive airlift of U.S. citizens, Afghans who helped U.S. forces and others who fear for their freedom and safety now that the Taliban has seized power in Afghanistan.
“We have put more than 5,000 U.S. service members at risk to save as many civilians as we can. It’s a noble mission. And today, we have seen firsthand how dangerous that mission is,” McKenzie said. “ISIS will not deter us from accomplishing the mission, I can assure you of that.”
He warned more attacks were expected, although the military was doing everything possible to prepare.
“If we can find who’s associated with this, we will go after them. We’ve been clear all along that we’re going to retain the right to operate against ISIS in Afghanistan,” he said. “We are working very hard right now to determine attribution, to determine who is associated with this cowardly attack, and we’re prepared to take action against them.”
McKenzie said the United States was prepared to use attack aircraft to defend the airport if necessary, including with AC-130 gunships. “We’ll be prepared to do that, should it become necessary to defend the base,” he said.
Thursday’s attack also underscored concerns over the U.S. counterterrorism capability in Afghanistan, with no U.S. troops or reliable partners left, jails emptied of militants and the Taliban in control.
Washington went to war in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by militants who had found safe harbor in the country when it was last ruled by the Taliban.
Independent U.N. experts had already told the Security Council in a report published last month that ISIS-Khorasan had expanded its presence to several provinces, including Kabul, and that fighters had formed sleeper cells.
“The group has strengthened its positions in and around Kabul, where it conducts most of its attacks, targeting minorities, activists, government employees and personnel of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces,” the report said.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reported to the Security Council in June that attacks claimed or attributed to ISIS-Khorasan increased to 88 between March and June, compared with 16 during the same period in 2020.