The United States military struck back at the Islamic State-Khorasan on Saturday with a drone strike in Afghanistan that killed the “planner” of the deadly suicide bombing at the Kabul airport carried out by the terror group in which over 100 Afghans and 13 US troops were killed.
"The unmanned airstrike occurred in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan. Initial indications are that we killed the target," Navy Captain Bill Urban of the Central Command said in a statement.
"We know of no civilian casualties," he added.
The strike launched from outside of Afghanistan, comes within 48 hours of the suicide bombing and is part of US President Joe Biden’s promise that the perpetrators of the Kabul airport attack would be hunted down.
Biden had said on Thursday he had ordered military commanders to develop plans to strike ISIS assets, leaders and facilities to hit back against the suicide bombings at Kabul airport.
The Islamic State's Afghan unit, ISIS-Khorosan, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Pentagon had also clarified on Friday that the attack at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan was carried out by one suicide bomber and not two as was being initially thought.
"I can confirm for you that we do not believe that there was a second explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, that it was one suicide bomber," Army Major General William Taylor told reporters.
Taylor said U.S. troops wounded in the attack were being treated in Germany.
Also read: ISI-linked Pakistani Aslam Farooqui is the mastermind behind Kabul airport attack
Earlier reports had said that while one explosion had taken place in front of the Abbey Gate to Kabul airport through which most of the evacuations were taking place, a second smaller explosion happened near Baron Hotel nearby.
General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of US Central Command has warned that the threat of more attacks is “extremely real.”
“We expect those attacks to continue, and we’re doing everything we can to prepare for those attacks.”
McKenzie said the United States was prepared to use attack aircraft , including AC-130 gunships to defend the airport if necessary. "We'll be prepared to do that, should it become necessary to defend the base," he said.
