The Afghan branch of the “jihadist” group “Islamic State” (EI) announced the attack, as a result of which dozens of people were killed and injured at the Kabul airport today, according to the specialized website Internet Site Intelligence.
In a statement released by the Amak propaganda agency, the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISKP) claims that one of its militants bypassed “all security posts” and moved “five meters” from US troops, “before detonating his belt with explosives.
The communiqué mentions only one suicide bomber and only one bomb.
The Pentagon, however, reported two suicide attacks followed by gunfire, warning of the existence of a “series of active threats” against the airport in Kabul, ranging from a possible missile attack to a car bomb attack. …
However, a third violent explosion has already been heard in the Afghan capital, but there is no additional information yet.
The United States has threatened ISIS with reprisals.
According to General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), at least 12 American soldiers were killed and 15 injured in the attack, which killed dozens of people, but the total number of which is still unknown, the number varies depending on source. reports.
In recent years, the ISKP has attacked mainly the Shiite minority, and also clashed with the Taliban and US forces, which have about 2,000 members.
ISIS emerged in Afghanistan in 2015, gaining strength in various parts of the country, and has established its main stronghold in Nangarhar, an area bordering Pakistan, which plays a key role in communications between the two countries.
The extremist group, made up mostly of former Taliban, announced its expansion into the Khorasan region, which historically includes parts of modern Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and began to attack civilians, as well as against US forces, Afghan and Pakistani women. …
As in the Middle East and Africa, IS does not respect borders or country designations and tries to conquer and expand territories beyond national borders.
However, unlike other branches of IS, Khorasan’s group is less visible in the media, as it is less active on the Internet and advertises less.
US and Afghan forces conducted several operations against these “jihadists” and even killed their leader in July 2016, after which in June 2017 the United States launched the “mother of all bombs” against the group’s bastion in Nangarhar.
According to a recent report from the United Nations Security Council, the Taliban also conducted operations against the ISKP, which was less active and was almost destroyed in 2019 after “successful military failures” that began in 2018.
However, this year the UN warned that since June 2020, the new leader of the Shahab al-Muhajir group “remains active and dangerous”, capable of “recruiting disaffected Taliban and other militants to replenish their ranks.”
Since 2015, the ISKP has reported nearly 100 attacks on civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan and has fought about 250 clashes with local forces, Taliban and US forces.
