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'Highly likely': Joe Biden warns of another attack on Kabul airport in 24-36 hours

The Pentagon claimed Saturday that retaliatory drone strikes in eastern Afghanistan killed two "high-level" IS militants, but Biden warned of additional attacks from the organisation.

Joe Biden warns of another attack on Kabul airport gcw
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Washington D.C., First Published Aug 29, 2021, 11:54 AM IST

Suicide bomb threats loomed over the penultimate phase of the US military's airlift mission from Kabul on Sunday. President Joe Biden warned that another assault was possible before the evacuation concluded. The Pentagon claimed Saturday that retaliatory drone strikes in eastern Afghanistan killed two "high-level" IS militants, but Biden warned of additional attacks from the organisation.

The situation on the ground, according to Biden, is highly hazardous, and the possibility of terrorist strikes on the airport remains high. He stated that officials advised him that an assault was very likely within the next 24-36 hours. Since the Taliban organisation stormed into power a week ago, more than 112,000 people have fled Afghanistan via the enormous US-led airlift. 

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A chaotic and frantic evacuation became violent on Thursday when a suicide bomber from the local chapter of the Islamic State group struck US forces, preventing massive crowds from entering the airport. More than 100 people were killed in the tragedy, which delayed airlifts ahead of Biden's Tuesday deadline for evacuations to finish. Later, the US embassy in Kabul issued a warning about significant threats at certain airport sites, including entry gates. The Islamic State's Afghanistan-Pakistan chapter has carried out some of the most heinous attacks in those countries in recent years. Innocent individuals have been killed in mosques, public places, schools, and even hospitals. While both the IS and the Taliban are devout Sunni Islamists, they are bitter competitors, each claiming to be the true jihadi flag bearers.

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