Taliban kill IS leader in Kabul attack

The Afghan Taliban allegedly killed the leader of the IS cell allegedly responsible for the devastating suicide bombing at Kabul airport in August 2021. The US government reached this conclusion based on intelligence information, several US officials reported. media unanimously on Tuesday, citing senior government officials. More than 170 Afghans and 13 US soldiers were killed in the attack, which took place as the US military withdrew from Afghanistan.

It is unclear whether the IS leader was deliberately killed by the Taliban or fell victim to one of the increasing battles between militant Islamists and IS fighters, the New York Times reports. His death was the sole responsibility of the Taliban, the US was not involved, the CBS broadcaster quoted an anonymous government official as saying. The US government has not provided any further details or evidence that the person killed was actually the IS leader in questionit was said.

In the attack on August 26, 2021, a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of one of the entrance gates to the airport in the Afghan capital Kabul. Crowds of people had gathered there, hoping to be deported shortly before the final withdrawal of the last American soldiers. US President Joe Biden, who ordered the withdrawal, faced harsh criticism for the chaotic conditions during the operation. However, in a recently published report on the troop withdrawal, the Biden administration largely blamed his predecessor Donald Trump for the difficulties encountered during the operation.

(yam/sda/dpa)