New Delhi: A rocket struck an area just northwest of Kabul airport today, killing a child, the Associated Press reported, according to the Afghan police chief.
In the aftermath of the rocket that struck Kabul’s Khuwja Bughra neighborhood, footage showed smoke rising from the building at the site about one kilometer (half a mile) from the airport.
The number of victims is not yet confirmed while according to the Afghanistan Times, six people including a child were killed and a few others were injured. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
US attacks ISIS-K suicide bombers
The United States targeted a vehicle carrying several suicide bombers from the Afghan branch of the Islamic State on Sunday.
The airstrike was intended to thwart their plans to target the ongoing US military evacuation at Kabul International Airport, officials said, as AP reported.
“US military forces today conducted an over-the-horizon self-defense unmanned airstrike on a vehicle in Kabul, eliminating an imminent threat from ISIS-K to Hamid Karzai International Airport. We are confident that we have succeeded in hitting the target ”: Bill Urban, US Central Command spokesman said, ANI News Agency reported
“Large secondary explosions from the vehicle indicated the presence of a substantial amount of explosive material. We are assessing the possibility of civilian casualties, although we have no indication at this time,” he added.
Previously, the suicide bombing of an Islamic State affiliate killed more than 180 people.
Ahead of the August 31 deadline to withdraw all troops from America’s longest war, U.S. Army cargo planes continued flights to the airport on Sunday.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid previously told reporters that the US strike targeted a suicide bomber while driving a vehicle loaded with explosives.
AFP also reported two US military officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the military operations, calling the airstrike successful. According to them, the strike caused large secondary explosions indicating the presence of a significant amount of explosive material in the vehicle.
It is the second American strike since the suicide bombing of the airport.
The US warns of ‘threat’ near Kabul airport
A strike in Nangarhar province on Saturday killed an Islamic State operative suspected of being involved in planning attacks on the United States in Kabul. The strike killed one person, spokesman for Captain William Urban said.
Sunday’s US action comes after President Joe Biden warned terrorists could target Kabul airport again in the next 24 to 36 hours.
After the retaliatory US military airstrikes against ISIS-K in Kabul, the Biden government on Saturday warned its citizens of a “specific and credible threat” near Kabul airport. The US government urged citizens to leave the area due to the deadly attack on mobs fleeing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan on Thursday, AFP reported.
“Due to a specific and credible threat, all US citizens in the vicinity of Kabul airport (…) should leave the airport area immediately,” the US embassy in Kabul said in an alert of security.
“The situation on the ground continues to be extremely dangerous and the threat of terrorist attacks on the airport remains high,” Biden said.
