American President Joe Biden vows to stage more attacks on the Afghan soil, despite the Taliban’s condemnation of an earlier such strike, which came amid Washington’s supposed commitment to full withdrawal.
Speaking on Saturday, Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid lashed out at Washington over the drone strike that targeted the vicinity of the Kabul International Airport earlier in the day in Nangarhar Province, an eastern area that borders Pakistan.
The drone assault reportedly sought to target the Takfiri terrorist group of Daesh that had bombed the terminal’s proximity on Thursday, reportedly killing 13 American “service members” amid at least 175 other people.
Mujahid called the UAV operation a “clear attack on Afghan territory.”
Biden, nevertheless, made no bones about the US’s intention to repeat such attacks.
“Our commanders informed me that an attack is highly likely in the next 24-36 hours. I directed them to take every possible measure to prioritize force protection,” he said in a statement.
Back in April, the US announced a pending complete pullout from the Central Asian country following some two decades of occupation.
The withdrawal contributed to the Taliban’s efforts to renew their rule over Afghanistan that eventually came true following months of intense countrywide offensives earlier in August.
Despite pledging to take its forces out, the US has been maintaining an exceptionally tight grip over the Kabul airport.
Credible reports have verified that the US has been exercising such controls over the terminal that has prevented thousands of Afghans, even those who have established themselves as Washington’s allies, from leaving Afghanistan.
Mujahid, however, vowed that the Taliban were expected to take full control of the airport “very shortly”-- raising the prospect of fresh clashes between the militants and the American troops, Reuters reported.