Monday, 30 August 2021 | AP | Kabul/Washington
Military says air strike targeted vehicle loaded with explosives
The US military confirmed on Sunday that it targeted an “explosive laden vehicle” headed towards Kabul’s international airport where the American military is involved in an evacuation operation. “US military forces
conducted a self-defence unmanned over-the-horizon air strike today on a vehicle in Kabul, eliminating an imminent ISIS-K threat to Hamid Karzai International airport,” said Captain Bill Urban, spokesman of the US Central Command.
“We are confident we successfully hit the target. Significant secondary explosions from the vehicle indicated the presence of a substantial amount of explosive material,” Urban said. The US is assessing the possibilities of civilian casualties, though it has no indications at this time. “We remain vigilant for potential future threats,” Urban said in a statement.
Earlier, the Taliban’s official spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a message to journalists in Afghanistan that the US strike targeted a suicide bomber in a vehicle who wanted to attack the Kabul international airport amid the American military’s evacuation there. However, Mujahid offered few other details about the incident, as well as about another rocket that struck a neighbourhood just northwest of the airport, killing a child. The two strikes initially appeared to be separate incidents, though information on both remained scarce.
US President Joe Biden has vowed to keep up air strikes against the Islamic State extremist group whose suicide bombing at the Kabul airport killed scores of Afghans and 13 American service members. “Our commanders informed me that an attack is highly likely in the next 24-36 hours,” Biden said, adding that he has instructed them to take all possible measures to protect their troops, who are securing the airport.
