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Joe Biden on Saturday warned that another terrorist attack in Kabul was very likely within the next 24 to 36 hours, and said the US drone strike that killed two Islamic State targets in retaliation for the deaths of 13 US military and 170 civilians. Thursday would not be the last of this action.
Earlier, Pentagon spokespersons said 6,800 people had been flown from Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of U.S. citizens and Afghan allies evacuated to more than 117,000 to more than 117,000. of the largest airlifts in history.
The Pentagon also named the US military killed by a suicide bomber and gunmen at Kabul airport on Thursday.
Eleven were US Marines, one was a soldier and one was a sailor. Many were just babies when the United States invaded Afghanistan in late 2001.
Ahead of the August 31 deadline for the US withdrawal from Taliban-held Kabul, Pentagon officials said the military had started withdrawing. On Saturday, an official told Reuters, there were less than 4,000 US troops at Kabul airport, compared to 5,800 at the height of the evacuation.
In a statement from the White House, where he was also preparing for a major hurricane landing in Louisiana, Biden said he had met with national security advisers.
“We discussed the strike by American forces [on Friday] night against the terrorist group Isis-K in Afghanistan, ”he declared.
The Pentagon said the drone attack killed two ISIS “planners and facilitators.”
Biden said, “I said we were going to prosecute the group responsible for the attack on our troops and innocent civilians in Kabul, and we did.
“This strike was not the last. We will continue to hunt down anyone involved in this heinous attack and make them pay. Anytime anyone seeks to harm the United States or attack our troops, we will respond. “
The Taliban condemned the strike as a “clear attack on Afghan territory”.
A spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, also told reporters that the Taliban expected to take full control of Kabul airport once US forces left. On Saturday, Taliban fighters installed new layers of checkpoints on the roads leading to the airport, some occupied by uniformed fighters with Humvees and night vision goggles captured by Afghan security forces.
The spokesperson also said activists were preparing to form a government and would soon announce a full cabinet. Officials have been appointed to head key institutions, the spokesperson said, including ministries of public health and education and the central bank. The spokesperson also said he expected the severe economic turmoil to subside soon.
About 5,400 Americans have been evacuated from Afghanistan to date, including 300 on the last day. The State Department said it believed about 350 others wanted out and about 280 others who said they were Americans had not described their intention to leave the country or said they were planning to. to stay.
John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, told reporters that the drone strike would not be enough to stop ISIS terrorists.
“They’ve lost some ability to plan and conduct missions,” he said, “but make no mistake, no one forgot that and said,“ Well, we’ve got them. We don’t have to worry about Isis-K anymore. Not the case.”
Biden said the situation in Kabul “continues to be extremely dangerous and the threat of terrorist attacks on the airport remains high. Our commanders have informed me that an attack is very likely within the next 24 to 36 hours.
“I have asked them to take all possible measures to prioritize the protection of the force and I have made sure that they have all the authorities, resources and plans to protect our men and women on the ground. They assured me that they did and that they could take these steps while completing the mission and safely demoting our staff.
The president said the US servicemen killed on Thursday were “heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others.”
“Their bravery and selflessness have brought more than 117,000 people at risk to safety so far,” he said. “May God protect our troops and all who are watching in these dangerous days. “
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