27th August, 2021
The death toll in the twin blasts launched by the Islamic State in Kabul on Thursday has risen to 108.
Casualties include 13 US marines and 95 Afghan civilians.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility and also revealing that one of its suicide bombers targeted “translators and collaborators with the American army”.
General Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said U.S. commanders were on alert for more attacks by Islamic State, including possibly rockets or vehicle-borne bombs targeting the airport.
“We’re doing everything we can to be prepared,” he said, adding that some intelligence was being shared with the Taliban and that he believed “some attacks have been thwarted by them.”
US President Joe Biden said he had ordered the Pentagon to plan how to strike ISIS-K, the Islamic State affiliate that claimed responsibility.
“We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay,” Biden said during televised comments from the White House on Thursday.