Kabul Airport attack mastermind killed by Taliban – U.S

The United States says the Taliban has killed an Islamic State militant who was the “mastermind” behind a suicide attack at Kabul’s international airport in 2021.

“He was a key ISIS-K official directly involved in plotting operations like Abbey Gate, and now is no longer able to plot or conduct attacks,” White House spokesperson John Kirby said in a statement.

The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, known as Islamic State Khorasan or ISIS-K, after an old name of the region, is an enemy of the Taliban. Fighters loyal to Islamic State first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in 2014 and later made inroads in other areas.

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The bombing occurred on August 26, 2021, as U.S. troops were trying to help Americans and Afghans flee in the chaotic aftermath of the Taliban’s takeover, and compounded America’s sense of defeat after 20 years of war.

Thirteen U.S. troops and scores of civilians were killed during the attack.

Zainab Sa’id