The evacuation from Kabul and the US Troop casualties have further intensified the political pressure on US President Joe Biden. The Biden administration has been blamed for being caught unaware by the sudden and violent attack on Kabul airport.

Big setback to Biden amid a panic-stricken evacuation attempt

In three days all foreign troops will leave Afghanistan as per the deadline set by the US to withdraw from Afghanistan after 20 years of war but the world is dreading the thought of what will happen after the 31st of August.

International Community dreads aftermath of withdrawal deadline

A few days after the ISIS-K launched a bloody attack in the nearby areas of Kabul airport in Afghanistan, the US claims it has successfully killed two 'high profile'&nbsp;ISIS targets.

As per the initial reports, no civilians were hurt in these drone attacks that took place in the early hours of Saturday.

"They were ISIS-K planners and facilitators. That's enough reason there alone," said spokesman John Kirby. "The fact that two of these individuals are no longer walking on the face of the Earth, that’s a good thing."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-flights-take-off-from-kabul-as-evacuations-resume-409022">WATCH |</a>

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A day after members of ISIS-K carried out bombings near the Kabul airport, killing at least 160 people and injuring several others, the US forces claimed they had&nbsp;carried out a successful drone strike.

This strike, the US officials claim, was planned against an alleged ISIS-K 'planner' near the&nbsp;Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan. The officials have stated that the strike was successful and the alleged planner was travelling with an 'associate' when he was targetted by the&nbsp;US forces.

However, the US officials have announced that they will not be releasing the names of the ISIS targets who have been killed in these strikes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/united-states-announces-that-it-carried-out-a-drone-strike-in-eastern-afghanistan-408941">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/united-states-announces-that-it-carried-out-a-drone-strike-in-eastern-afghanistan-408941/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The announcement was made in a Pentagon briefing in which&nbsp;Major General William "Hank" Taylor confirmed that the strikes have been successful.

"We will have the ability to protect our selves. We continue to evacuate people," Taylor added.

Meanwhile, John Kirby&nbsp;also clarified that this mission was carried out solely by the US forces and no information was shared with Taliban. He also assured that the evacuation mission will continue till the end of the month despite the threat that the US troops face in Afghanistan right now.

"We are going to complete this mission by the end of this month we have said that, there is no&nbsp;change on the time line," he said. "Threats are real and dynamic, and we are monitoring them literally on real time."

Kirby also clarified that even though the Taliban have&nbsp;checkpoints around the airport, "they are not at the airport or manning the gates".

A few days after the ISIS-K launched a bloody attack in the nearby areas of Kabul airport in Afghanistan, the US claims it has successfully killed two 'high profile' ISIS targets.

A few days after the ISIS-K launched a bloody attack in the nearby areas of Kabul airport in Afghanistan, the US claims it has successfully killed two 'high profile' ISIS targets. As per the initial reports, no civilians were hurt in these drone attacks that took place in the early hours of Saturday. "They were ISIS-K planners and facilitators. That's enough reason there alone," said spokesman John Kirby. "The fact that two of these individuals are no longer walking on the face of the Earth, that’s a good thing." WATCH | A day after members of ISIS-K carried out bombings near the Kabul airport, killing at least 160 people and injuring several others, the US forces claimed they had carried out a successful drone strike. This strike, the US officials claim, was planned against an alleged ISIS-K 'planner' near the Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan. The officials have stated that the strike was successful and the alleged planner was travelling with an 'associate' when he was targetted by the US forces. However, the US officials have announced that they will not be releasing the names of the ISIS targets who have been killed in these strikes. WATCH | The announcement was made in a Pentagon briefing in which Major General William "Hank" Taylor confirmed that the strikes have been successful. "We will have the ability to protect our selves. We continue to evacuate people," Taylor added. Meanwhile, John Kirby also clarified that this mission was carried out solely by the US forces and no information was shared with Taliban. He also assured that the evacuation mission will continue till the end of the month despite the threat that the US troops face in Afghanistan right now. "We are going to complete this mission by the end of this month we have said that, there is no change on the time line," he said. "Threats are real and dynamic, and we are monitoring them literally on real time." Kirby also clarified that even though the Taliban have checkpoints around the airport, "they are not at the airport or manning the gates".

US killed two 'high profile' ISIS targets in Afghanistan drone strike: Pentagon

France&nbsp;ended&nbsp;its&nbsp;evacuations&nbsp;from&nbsp;Taliban-controlled&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;late Friday, officials said, one day after a suicide bombing left scenes of carnage outside Kabul airport.

The airlift had to be stopped because "the security conditions were no longer being met at the airport", Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Defence Minister Florence Parly said in the wake of Thursday's attack, which killed scores of Afghan civilians and 13 US troops.

In a statement, the ministers blamed the lack of security on the "rapid disengagement of the American forces".

Separately, Parly tweeted that the French forces had managed to fly around 3,000 people out of&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;before their airlift operation was halted.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kill-list-biden-says-us-troops-may-have-handed-a-list-of-american-citizens-to-taliban-408871">Also read |&nbsp;Kill list? Biden says US troops 'may' have handed a list of American citizens to Taliban</a>

"In less than two weeks, the French military has brought some 3,000 people to safety, including more than 2,600 Afghans," she tweeted.

The French embassy team in Kabul has reached Abu Dhabi and&nbsp;from&nbsp;there will fly home to&nbsp;France, the ministers said.

France&nbsp;has called for setting up humanitarian operations to assist the thousands of Afghan nationals who failed to get a flight out to leave by other means.

"Our efforts continue," the two ministers said.

A French delegation met Thursday with Taliban representatives with the talks centring on the situation at the Kabul airport and the airlift operations, the ministers said.

France ended its evacuations from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan late Friday, officials said, one day after a suicide bombing left scenes of carnage outside Kabul airport.

France ended its evacuations from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan late Friday, officials said, one day after a suicide bombing left scenes of carnage outside Kabul airport. The airlift had to be stopped because "the security conditions were no longer being met at the airport", Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Defence Minister Florence Parly said in the wake of Thursday's attack, which killed scores of Afghan civilians and 13 US troops. In a statement, the ministers blamed the lack of security on the "rapid disengagement of the American forces". Separately, Parly tweeted that the French forces had managed to fly around 3,000 people out of Afghanistan before their airlift operation was halted. Also read | Kill list? Biden says US troops 'may' have handed a list of American citizens to Taliban "In less than two weeks, the French military has brought some 3,000 people to safety, including more than 2,600 Afghans," she tweeted. The French embassy team in Kabul has reached Abu Dhabi and from there will fly home to France, the ministers said. France has called for setting up humanitarian operations to assist the thousands of Afghan nationals who failed to get a flight out to leave by other means. "Our efforts continue," the two ministers said. A French delegation met Thursday with Taliban representatives with the talks centring on the situation at the Kabul airport and the airlift operations, the ministers said.

France ends evacuations from Afghanistan

In pics| Kabul residents protest against closure of banks

As the UK’s evacuation process comes to an end, British footprints in Afghan’s social media also seem to have hit a dead end. The official Twitter account of the British embassy in Afghanistan has been deactivated, without any explanation or acknowledgment.<o:p></o:p>

UK in Afghanistan, the Twitter handle for the British embassy in Afghanistan, was created in 2013 and had managed to gain more than 109,000 followers. However, the account suddenly disappeared from the social media platform on Friday evening.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-to-end-evacuation-of-civilians-from-afghanistan-on-saturday-408999">UK to end evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan on Saturday</a>&nbsp;</o:p>

As people quizzed over the reason of the UK authorities deleting their Twitter account, the official website of the embassy stated that all its Kabul operations have been "temporarily suspended in response to the deterioration in the security situation".<o:p></o:p>

This action from the British authorities has questioned many as the account was still active almost for a week after Taliban took over Afghanistan.

People on Twitter believe this might be a way of scrubbing data to protect the people, especially Afghan citizens, who have helped British authorities in the past but could not be evacuated.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-flights-take-off-from-kabul-as-evacuations-resume-409022">WATCH |</a></o:p>

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This has coincided with the UK announcing that it will soon be wrapping up its evacuation mission in Afghanistan. <o:p></o:p>

Recently, Britain’s Chief&nbsp;of&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Staff General&nbsp;Nick Carter said the British troops that the mission is coming to an end very soon. "We're reaching the end of the evacuation, which will take place during the course of today. And then it will be necessary to bring our troops out on the remaining aircraft,"&nbsp;he said.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

As the UK’s evacuation process comes to an end, British footprints in Afghan’s social media also seem to have hit a dead end. The official Twitter account of the British embassy in Afghanistan has been deactivated, without any explanation or acknowledgment.

As the UK’s evacuation process comes to an end, British footprints in Afghan’s social media also seem to have hit a dead end. The official Twitter account of the British embassy in Afghanistan has been deactivated, without any explanation or acknowledgment. UK in Afghanistan, the Twitter handle for the British embassy in Afghanistan, was created in 2013 and had managed to gain more than 109,000 followers. However, the account suddenly disappeared from the social media platform on Friday evening. Also read | UK to end evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan on Saturday As people quizzed over the reason of the UK authorities deleting their Twitter account, the official website of the embassy stated that all its Kabul operations have been "temporarily suspended in response to the deterioration in the security situation". This action from the British authorities has questioned many as the account was still active almost for a week after Taliban took over Afghanistan. People on Twitter believe this might be a way of scrubbing data to protect the people, especially Afghan citizens, who have helped British authorities in the past but could not be evacuated. WATCH | This has coincided with the UK announcing that it will soon be wrapping up its evacuation mission in Afghanistan. Recently, Britain’s Chief of Defence Staff General Nick Carter said the British troops that the mission is coming to an end very soon. "We're reaching the end of the evacuation, which will take place during the course of today. And then it will be necessary to bring our troops out on the remaining aircraft," he said.

UK suddenly deletes its Afghan embassy's Twitter account

Two Britons and a child of another UK national were killed in the twin bombings at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. Watch this report to know more.

Two UK nationals among dead in Kabul airport attack

Gravitas Plus | The Taliban want to impose their version of the Sharia Law in Afghanistan. What is the Sharia? Why is it controversial? Why are Sharia laws different in different countries? WION's Palki Sharma explains the history, interpretations & debates over the Sharia.

Gravitas Plus | The Sharia Law

A few days after completing evacuation process from Afghanistan, Italy has now announced that it has taken one of the largest numbers of Afghans.

"We are the EU country taking in the biggest number of Afghan evacuees,"&nbsp;Luigi Di Maio, Italy’s Foreign Affairs minister said.

Several countries from the West and East have been trying to evacuate their citizens, passport holders and Afghan allies since the Taliban took control of the country.

Have a look |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/afghanistan-evacuations-latest-situation-on-the-ground-408839#usa-408826">&nbsp;Afghanistan evacuations: Latest situation on the ground</a>

Western countries are now struggling to evacuate their citizens from Afghanistan now through the Kabul International Airport, before the deadline of August 31.

Italy claims they have evacuated nearly 5,000 Afghan citizens since August 15 — when Taliban took over Afghanistan. Italy has evacuated 4,900 citizens and Germany has brought 4,000 Afghans.

"There are still so many Afghan nationals waiting to be evacuated, and we can no longer do that with the airlift," Di Maio said.&nbsp;"Our imperative will be not to abandon the Afghan people, not to abandon Afghan women, or young Afghans and all those who over all these years have shown a great desire for evolution, for change."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-flights-take-off-from-kabul-as-evacuations-resume-409022">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-flights-take-off-from-kabul-as-evacuations-resume-409022/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Italy is now planning to commence a "second, more difficult phase" phase of evacuations soon now to help the remaining eligible Afghan nationals.

As per officials figures given by the ministers, more than 5,000 people are still struggling outside the Kabul airport with a hope of getting a chance to flee the Taliban control.

A few days after completing evacuation process from Afghanistan, Italy has now announced that it has taken one of the largest numbers of Afghans. "We are the EU country taking in the biggest number of Afghan evacuees," Luigi Di Maio, Italy’s Foreign Affairs minister said.

A few days after completing evacuation process from Afghanistan, Italy has now announced that it has taken one of the largest numbers of Afghans. "We are the EU country taking in the biggest number of Afghan evacuees," Luigi Di Maio, Italy’s Foreign Affairs minister said. Several countries from the West and East have been trying to evacuate their citizens, passport holders and Afghan allies since the Taliban took control of the country. Have a look | Afghanistan evacuations: Latest situation on the ground Western countries are now struggling to evacuate their citizens from Afghanistan now through the Kabul International Airport, before the deadline of August 31. Italy claims they have evacuated nearly 5,000 Afghan citizens since August 15 — when Taliban took over Afghanistan. Italy has evacuated 4,900 citizens and Germany has brought 4,000 Afghans. "There are still so many Afghan nationals waiting to be evacuated, and we can no longer do that with the airlift," Di Maio said. "Our imperative will be not to abandon the Afghan people, not to abandon Afghan women, or young Afghans and all those who over all these years have shown a great desire for evolution, for change." WATCH | Italy is now planning to commence a "second, more difficult phase" phase of evacuations soon now to help the remaining eligible Afghan nationals. As per officials figures given by the ministers, more than 5,000 people are still struggling outside the Kabul airport with a hope of getting a chance to flee the Taliban control.

Italy claims to have rescued most number of Afghan refugees in EU

Afghanistan's Former Minister of Mines and Petroleum Nargis Nehan speaks with WION about the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.

Exclusive: Afghanistan's former Minister of Mines and Petroleum Nargis Nehan speaks with WION

US lawmakers have written a letter to President Joe Biden over the current situation in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, asking a range of questions related to terrorism, nuclear weapon, infrastructure, military, women safety, China's ties with Taliban, Pakistan-Taliban relations etc.

US lawmakers have written a letter to President Joe Biden over the current situation in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, asking a range of questions related to terrorism, nuclear weapon, infrastructure, military, women safety, China's ties with Taliban, Pakistan-Taliban relations etc. The details of the letter dated August 24 and signed by the group of 68 lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives have emerged. The lawmakers demanded that Biden should answer critical questions on what happened during the evacuation phase in Afghanistan and what are his plans to move forward. ALSO READ | Heart wrenching details of some of the 13 US troops killed in Afghan bombings As per the letter, lawmakers said, "The situation in Afghanistan has rapidly metastasized into Taliban rule with reinstated oppression of women and girls, the repression of civil society, the displacement of countless Afghans from their homes who the Taliban then use force to prevent from fleeing Afghanistan, and a power vacuum that China seeks to fill by increasing its ties to the Taliban." "The consequences of withdrawal from Afghanistan are not isolated to that country, or even to the Middle East region. The withdrawal carried geopolitical and strategic consequences that have already begun to unfold and will reverberate for decades," it added. ALSO READ | UN issues urgent appeal to help drought-hit Afghan farmers In the latest development, the US attacked an Islamic State "planner" in Afghanistan in retaliation for a deadly bombing outside Kabul airport on Thursday (August 26) that heightened the already tense situation. The US also said that there was a high risk of further blasts. Among the scores killed in the suicide bomb blast, claimed by an Islamic State affiliate in the country, were 13 US service members, the most lethal incident for US troops in Afghanistan in a decade. Details of the letter In a letter to Biden, the lawmakers said the world has watched with utter shock as the Taliban took over Afghanistan with astonishing speed, "the result of unforced errors made by withdrawing completely the small remaining footprint of our main military force from Afghanistan, and by unnecessarily delaying the evacuation of US personnel and its Afghan partners". Here are some of the prominent questions asked by the US lawmakers: Q1) What is your plan to evacuate Afghan SIVs and other vulnerable Afghans like women, girls, and former Afghan civil service employees from Afghanistan? The lawmakers have asked Biden's plans to protect women journalists, scholars and employees of prominent non-government organisations and they also asked about the protection of religious and ethnic minorities, like the Hazaras. Q2) Will you commit to abandoning the arbitrary August 31 withdrawal deadline and continuing Noncombatant Evacuation Operation until all Americans, allies, and at-risk Afghans are processed for evacuation? The US and allies are hurrying to evacuate as many people from Afghanistan as possible before an Aug. 31 deadline. The US will continue evacuating people from Kabul airport until Aug 31 if needed but will prioritise the removal of US troops and military equipment on the last couple of days, the Pentagon has said. The lawmakers are, however, asking what will happen if the evacuations are not completed before the deadline. IN PICS | Shocking images of children trapped at Kabul airport amid evacuation Q3) What is your plan to counter the Chinese Communist Party's growing relationship with the Taliban? Experts have weighed in on the possible Taliban and China ties as Beijing might look to cement its grip on the region. China has held out an olive branch to the Taliban, enticed by the country's mineral wealth, including its large reserves of lithium, a key component for electric vehicles. Q4) What is your plan to help to ensure that the Taliban does not destabilise its nuclear neighbour, Pakistan? Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, there are reports that Islamabad had allowed a porous border to give Taliban access in Pakistan, hiding from US forces. When the Taliban captured Kabul, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said Afghans had broken the "shackles of slavery". The lawmakers asked is Biden prepared to support regional allies militarily in the event that the Taliban militarise the Afghanistan border. Watch: × Q5) What is your plan to ensure that Al Qaida does not resurge and regain a foothold in Afghanistan? As the NATO allies withdrew their troops from Afghanistan, several intelligence communities have warned that terror groups like Al Qaida and ISIS-K will dominate in the region. Some of the reports have also said that they will be given complete freedom to act by the Taliban. The lawmakers have asked what operations are prepared to counter this threat. Q6) What is your plan to ensure that more US and Afghan military equipment does not end up in the hands of the Taliban? One of the various questions was related to US-owned weapons, which have been asked prominently since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. From Humvee vehicles to Blackhawk helicopters, reports revealed the Taliban had seized most of the country, as well as any weapons and equipment left behind by fleeing Afghan forces. Pictures and videos showed the advancing insurgents inspecting long lines of vehicles and opening crates of new firearms, communications gear and even military drones. Taliban are believed to control more than 2,000 armoured vehicles, including US Humvees, and up to 40 aircraft potentially including UH-60 Black Hawks, scout attack helicopters, and ScanEagle military drones. The lawmakers have asked what are Biden's plans to disable any air forces that operate under orders from the Taliban. Other points were made over Afghan refugees in the US, plans to support Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA)'s air traffic control, plans to support any free Afghanistan resistance, etc.

US lawmakers write to Joe Biden demanding answers over Afghanistan, China, terrorism, nuclear weapon and more

The Americans called him “Mikey,” and as an interpreter for the Special Forces he did not just bridge language gaps. He did everything from easing negotiations with local Afghans loyal to the Taliban to warning a convoy away from an ambush.

“Mikey wasn’t just a regular interpreter,” recalls Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Torres, a Texan who served in the Special Forces. “He was our lifeline. He went everywhere we went on the most remote and dangerous missions. It was because of him that we returned home alive after deployments.”

But the day after Kabul fell to the Taliban, the 34-year-old Afghan was on his own.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-write-to-joe-biden-demanding-answers-over-afghanistan-china-terrorism-nuclear-weapon-and-more-409006" hreflang="en">US lawmakers write to Biden demanding answers over Afghanistan, China and more</a>

Determined to get out of Afghanistan, he was making a desperate run to the airport with his wife and two young sons when they were caught in gunfire amid the crush of people who had gathered there to escape. His wife and one son, 6, were both shot in the foot.

As he carried the bloodied and screaming child in search of a hospital, Mikey says, he flashed back to his time on the battlefield with US forces.

“I kept thinking, after everything I did for the Americans,” he said. “After all my hard work and risking my life, now this is what happens to my family? They are leaving us to die here.”

Mikey — who is being identified by his American nickname for safety reasons — is one of tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the United States and have applications pending for expedited visas allowing them to resettle in America. President Joe Biden has pledged that Afghan allies will be welcomed to “their new homes” and called the situation on the ground “heartbreaking.”

But the evacuation of US&nbsp;citizens and green-card holders remains the immediate priority of the military operation underway at the Kabul airport. That means that for many Afghans who worked with the United States, there is little to do but wait — and try to keep out of the sights of the Taliban.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/heart-wrenching-details-of-some-of-the-13-us-troops-killed-in-afghan-bombings-409001">Heart wrenching details of some of the 13 US troops killed in Afghan bombings</a>

Mikey worked as an interpreter for the Special Forces from 2009 to 2012 in Kandahar, and from 2015 to 2017 in Kabul. He was once so badly wounded in an explosion that he had to be airlifted to a field hospital.

The night his wife and son were shot, Mikey got them into a hospital and then went into hiding. Preferring rooms without windows, he switched locations four times in one week.

He was waiting for the US government to give him an evacuation plan. He was waiting for the approval of his visa application.

And he was waiting for the Taliban to find him.

In interviews from his bunkers in Kabul as events unfolded over the past week, Mikey talked about the ordeal of trying to keep himself alive and his family safe in the chaos left behind by the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. With no word from the US&nbsp;government about when or how he might get out, he realized that the bonds he had forged with U.S. soldiers might offer his only hope for safe passage.

That is where Torres, who now lives in Pecos, Texas, came in.

He had worked with Mikey on multiple deployments, and now he had a new battle: leading a global operation to get him out.

To coordinate those efforts, Torres and a group of about 20 former and current members of the military formed a WhatsApp chat group and an email thread. They reached out to military and Department of State contacts, along with members of Congress, to try to get Mikey and his family onto a military evacuation plane.

They say they understand why US citizens are getting priority when it comes to evacuations. The outrage is over the lack of a clear plan for all those Afghans who worked side by side with the Americans, who may have targets on their backs now that the Taliban is in control.

“It’s infuriating,” Torres said. “My heart breaks for everyone who doesn’t have the support Mikey has.”

It was not the case that Mikey tried to get out of Afghanistan only when the danger became clear.

He started his special visa application in 2012, when he was in Kandahar with the military. He had his interview, one of the final steps in the process, in November 2018 when he worked at Camp Duskin in Kabul. He is still waiting for medical tests and approval. Emails he has sent to follow up on his application have gone unanswered.

Across the US, members of the armed forces are leading their own campaigns to pressure the Biden administration to scale up the evacuation of Afghans who worked as their interpreters. They have taken to social media and created fundraising campaigns such as “Help Our Interpreters.”

Military interpreters are among the most vulnerable of Afghan allies. The nature of their work required that they accompany military personnel in the battlefield and be present during interactions with locals. If residents of the areas where they worked were hostile to Americans, the interpreters could be easily identified for the Taliban.

Mikey was a teenager in Kabul when the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001. In high school he worked hard to learn English, and his language teacher suggested he work as an interpreter for the Americans after graduation.

He was dispatched to Kandahar airfield, one of the largest US military bases in Afghanistan, and from there to multiple remote outposts, quickly working his way up to become a lead interpreter.

“Mikey was always fun to be around, very open-minded with a very big heart,” said Sgt. First Class Raymond Steele, an active member of Special Forces who has stayed in regular contact with him over the years.

Mikey listened to communications to intercept threats, talking to local tribal leaders in person and on his phone. On one patrol, he got word of an ambush and of insurgents burying explosive devices in their path.

“I felt proud of my job because it felt like I was helping my country,” Mikey said.

Between stints in Kandahar and Kabul, Mikey got married. He bought a car and worked as a taxi driver in Kabul. He and his wife had children.

But the US era in Afghanistan was ending — and the Taliban’s resuming. That left countless Afghans feeling helpless and adrift, as Mikey was when we spoke by phone last Saturday night.

“We are in the dark,” he told me. “My American friends say just wait, wait to see what happens. Be ready to leave when we tell you.”

Then Monday around 4 p.m. Mikey received an astonishing text from Torres: We are going to get you out, it said. Get ready now. Wait for instructions.

The mission to rescue Mikey, with the help of current and former military contacts on the ground, was in motion — and things were moving quickly. In a space of two hours, Mikey and his family were hidden in a car, their documents stashed, heading for a gate at the Kabul airport where members of the military were expecting him.

They welcomed him, taking his family to a clinic so his wife and son’s bullet wounds could be treated. The children got candy.

When Torres got the call that Mikey was finally in the clear, he broke into sobs. He never cries, he says. Steele called Mikey and shouted, “I love you, man.”

On Tuesday, Mikey and his family flew out of Afghanistan aboard a US military plane, his initial destination withheld for security reasons.

It was his son’s sixth birthday.

“I am extremely relieved and happy,” Mikey said during a call from the tarmac in Kabul as he waited to board the plane. “My infinite gratitude for the help and kindness of my American brothers. You gave us a second chance at life.”

The Americans called him “Mikey,” and as an interpreter for the Special Forces he did not just bridge language gaps. He did everything from easing negotiations with local Afghans loyal to the Taliban to warning a convoy away from an ambush.

The Americans called him “Mikey,” and as an interpreter for the Special Forces he did not just bridge language gaps. He did everything from easing negotiations with local Afghans loyal to the Taliban to warning a convoy away from an ambush. “Mikey wasn’t just a regular interpreter,” recalls Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Torres, a Texan who served in the Special Forces. “He was our lifeline. He went everywhere we went on the most remote and dangerous missions. It was because of him that we returned home alive after deployments.” But the day after Kabul fell to the Taliban, the 34-year-old Afghan was on his own. Also read | US lawmakers write to Biden demanding answers over Afghanistan, China and more Determined to get out of Afghanistan, he was making a desperate run to the airport with his wife and two young sons when they were caught in gunfire amid the crush of people who had gathered there to escape. His wife and one son, 6, were both shot in the foot. As he carried the bloodied and screaming child in search of a hospital, Mikey says, he flashed back to his time on the battlefield with US forces. “I kept thinking, after everything I did for the Americans,” he said. “After all my hard work and risking my life, now this is what happens to my family? They are leaving us to die here.” Mikey — who is being identified by his American nickname for safety reasons — is one of tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the United States and have applications pending for expedited visas allowing them to resettle in America. President Joe Biden has pledged that Afghan allies will be welcomed to “their new homes” and called the situation on the ground “heartbreaking.” But the evacuation of US citizens and green-card holders remains the immediate priority of the military operation underway at the Kabul airport. That means that for many Afghans who worked with the United States, there is little to do but wait — and try to keep out of the sights of the Taliban. Also read | Heart wrenching details of some of the 13 US troops killed in Afghan bombings Mikey worked as an interpreter for the Special Forces from 2009 to 2012 in Kandahar, and from 2015 to 2017 in Kabul. He was once so badly wounded in an explosion that he had to be airlifted to a field hospital. The night his wife and son were shot, Mikey got them into a hospital and then went into hiding. Preferring rooms without windows, he switched locations four times in one week. He was waiting for the US government to give him an evacuation plan. He was waiting for the approval of his visa application. And he was waiting for the Taliban to find him. In interviews from his bunkers in Kabul as events unfolded over the past week, Mikey talked about the ordeal of trying to keep himself alive and his family safe in the chaos left behind by the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. With no word from the US government about when or how he might get out, he realized that the bonds he had forged with U.S. soldiers might offer his only hope for safe passage. That is where Torres, who now lives in Pecos, Texas, came in. He had worked with Mikey on multiple deployments, and now he had a new battle: leading a global operation to get him out. To coordinate those efforts, Torres and a group of about 20 former and current members of the military formed a WhatsApp chat group and an email thread. They reached out to military and Department of State contacts, along with members of Congress, to try to get Mikey and his family onto a military evacuation plane. They say they understand why US citizens are getting priority when it comes to evacuations. The outrage is over the lack of a clear plan for all those Afghans who worked side by side with the Americans, who may have targets on their backs now that the Taliban is in control. “It’s infuriating,” Torres said. “My heart breaks for everyone who doesn’t have the support Mikey has.” It was not the case that Mikey tried to get out of Afghanistan only when the danger became clear. He started his special visa application in 2012, when he was in Kandahar with the military. He had his interview, one of the final steps in the process, in November 2018 when he worked at Camp Duskin in Kabul. He is still waiting for medical tests and approval. Emails he has sent to follow up on his application have gone unanswered. Across the US, members of the armed forces are leading their own campaigns to pressure the Biden administration to scale up the evacuation of Afghans who worked as their interpreters. They have taken to social media and created fundraising campaigns such as “Help Our Interpreters.” Military interpreters are among the most vulnerable of Afghan allies. The nature of their work required that they accompany military personnel in the battlefield and be present during interactions with locals. If residents of the areas where they worked were hostile to Americans, the interpreters could be easily identified for the Taliban. Mikey was a teenager in Kabul when the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001. In high school he worked hard to learn English, and his language teacher suggested he work as an interpreter for the Americans after graduation. He was dispatched to Kandahar airfield, one of the largest US military bases in Afghanistan, and from there to multiple remote outposts, quickly working his way up to become a lead interpreter. “Mikey was always fun to be around, very open-minded with a very big heart,” said Sgt. First Class Raymond Steele, an active member of Special Forces who has stayed in regular contact with him over the years. Mikey listened to communications to intercept threats, talking to local tribal leaders in person and on his phone. On one patrol, he got word of an ambush and of insurgents burying explosive devices in their path. “I felt proud of my job because it felt like I was helping my country,” Mikey said. Between stints in Kandahar and Kabul, Mikey got married. He bought a car and worked as a taxi driver in Kabul. He and his wife had children. But the US era in Afghanistan was ending — and the Taliban’s resuming. That left countless Afghans feeling helpless and adrift, as Mikey was when we spoke by phone last Saturday night. “We are in the dark,” he told me. “My American friends say just wait, wait to see what happens. Be ready to leave when we tell you.” Then Monday around 4 p.m. Mikey received an astonishing text from Torres: We are going to get you out, it said. Get ready now. Wait for instructions. The mission to rescue Mikey, with the help of current and former military contacts on the ground, was in motion — and things were moving quickly. In a space of two hours, Mikey and his family were hidden in a car, their documents stashed, heading for a gate at the Kabul airport where members of the military were expecting him. They welcomed him, taking his family to a clinic so his wife and son’s bullet wounds could be treated. The children got candy. When Torres got the call that Mikey was finally in the clear, he broke into sobs. He never cries, he says. Steele called Mikey and shouted, “I love you, man.” On Tuesday, Mikey and his family flew out of Afghanistan aboard a US military plane, his initial destination withheld for security reasons. It was his son’s sixth birthday. “I am extremely relieved and happy,” Mikey said during a call from the tarmac in Kabul as he waited to board the plane. “My infinite gratitude for the help and kindness of my American brothers. You gave us a second chance at life.”

A stranded interpreter, and the soldiers who would not let go

Evacuation operations have resumed in Afghanistan with renewed urgency as western countries ramp up efforts to pull out troops and civilians from the conflict-ridden region.

Afghanistan: Flights take off from Kabul as evacuations resume

WION speaks to professor Anna Filigenzi on the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.

Professor Anna Filigenzi speaks on Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan resulting in refugee crisis

A day after an attack outside Kabul’s airport, the United States has announced that it carried out a drone strike in eastern Afghanistan against a “planner” of an ISIL-affiliated group. The unmanned airstrike occurred in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan.

United States announces that it carried out a drone strike in eastern Afghanistan

French President Emmanuel&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;warned of the threat the Islamic State group poses ahead of an Iraqi&nbsp;summit&nbsp;Saturday overshadowed by the Taliban's takeover of&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;and a deadly bombing in Kabul.

Organisers have been tight-lipped on the agenda of the&nbsp;summit&nbsp;in Baghdad, but the meeting also comes as&nbsp;Iraq, long a casualty of jihadist militancy, tries to establish itself as a mediator between Arab countries and Iran.

"We all know that we must not lower our guard, because Daesh (IS) remains a threat, and I know that the fight&nbsp;against&nbsp;these terrorist groups is a priority of your government,"&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;said, after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi in Baghdad.

Iraq&nbsp;and France "are key partners in the war&nbsp;against&nbsp;terrorism," Kadhemi replied.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan's King Abdullah II are due at the&nbsp;summit, while the foreign ministers of regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia will also be present.

The prime minster of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, as well as Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah are also expected to attend.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-airstrike-targets-is-in-afghanistan-in-response-to-deadly-suicide-attack-408905">Also read |&nbsp;US airstrike targets IS in Afghanistan in response to deadly suicide attack</a>

Iraq&nbsp;is seeking to play a "unifying role" to tackle crises shaking the region, sources close to&nbsp;Iraq's Kadhemi have said.

Oil-rich&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;has been caught for years in a delicate balancing act between its two main allies, Iran and the United States.

Iran exerts major clout in&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;through allied armed groups within the Hashed al-Shaabi, a powerful state-sponsored paramilitary network.

Baghdad has been brokering talks since April between US ally Riyadh and Tehran on mending ties severed in 2016.

Macron&nbsp;aims to highlight France's role in the region and its determination to press the fight&nbsp;against&nbsp;terrorism, his office said.

The French president considers&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;"essential" to stability in the troubled Middle East, it added.

'More urgent than ever'

An IS affiliate claimed Thursday's suicide bombing in Kabul that killed scores of people, including 13 US service members.

The attack has revived global concerns that the extremist organisation, which seized swathes of Syria and&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;before being routed from both countries, is emerging anew, analysts said.

The blast came during the final days of US-led evacuations from&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;after the Taliban's lightning takeover.

"These events show that it has become more urgent than ever to back the political process in&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;and involve its neighbours," a source close to&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;said.

"A solution to security threats in the region, including Daesh, depends on a stable, sovereign and prosperous&nbsp;Iraq," the source added.

A decade after the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, IS in June 2014 announced a "caliphate" in territory seized in Syria and&nbsp;Iraq, routing the badly prepared Iraqi army without a fight and seizing almost a third of the country.

France was part of a US-led coalition established to battle the extremists.

Iraq&nbsp;declared IS territorially defeated in December 2017, but the group still retains sleeper cells and continues to claim bloody attacks.

New IS 'strides'

One of the deadliest was a July bombing that ripped through a crowded Baghdad market, killing over 30 people on the eve of a key Muslim holiday.

According to Colin Clarke, senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, IS "still has access to tens of millions of dollars and will likely continue to rebuild its network throughout&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;and Syria".

Its "primary goal at the moment is to have its affiliates maintain momentum until it can sufficiently rebuild its core in the Levant," he said.

"(IS) affiliates in sub-Saharan Africa and now&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;will have the opportunity to make strides in the coming year."

In July, President Joe Biden said US combat operations in&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;would end this year, but that US soldiers would continue to train, advise and support the country's military in the fight&nbsp;against&nbsp;IS.

Washington currently has 2,500 troops deployed to&nbsp;Iraq.

Rasha Al Aqeedi, senior analyst at Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy, said coalition forces believed&nbsp;Iraq's security personnel could prevent another IS advance.

"Maybe they're not ideal, but they're good enough for America to leave the country believing that&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;is not going to live through another 2014," she said.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned of the threat the Islamic State group poses ahead of an Iraqi summit Saturday overshadowed by the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and a deadly bombing in Kabul.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned of the threat the Islamic State group poses ahead of an Iraqi summit Saturday overshadowed by the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and a deadly bombing in Kabul. Organisers have been tight-lipped on the agenda of the summit in Baghdad, but the meeting also comes as Iraq, long a casualty of jihadist militancy, tries to establish itself as a mediator between Arab countries and Iran. "We all know that we must not lower our guard, because Daesh (IS) remains a threat, and I know that the fight against these terrorist groups is a priority of your government," Macron said, after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi in Baghdad. Iraq and France "are key partners in the war against terrorism," Kadhemi replied. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan's King Abdullah II are due at the summit, while the foreign ministers of regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia will also be present. The prime minster of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, as well as Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah are also expected to attend. Also read | US airstrike targets IS in Afghanistan in response to deadly suicide attack Iraq is seeking to play a "unifying role" to tackle crises shaking the region, sources close to Iraq's Kadhemi have said. Oil-rich Iraq has been caught for years in a delicate balancing act between its two main allies, Iran and the United States. Iran exerts major clout in Iraq through allied armed groups within the Hashed al-Shaabi, a powerful state-sponsored paramilitary network. Baghdad has been brokering talks since April between US ally Riyadh and Tehran on mending ties severed in 2016. Macron aims to highlight France's role in the region and its determination to press the fight against terrorism, his office said. The French president considers Iraq "essential" to stability in the troubled Middle East, it added. 'More urgent than ever' An IS affiliate claimed Thursday's suicide bombing in Kabul that killed scores of people, including 13 US service members. The attack has revived global concerns that the extremist organisation, which seized swathes of Syria and Iraq before being routed from both countries, is emerging anew, analysts said. The blast came during the final days of US-led evacuations from Afghanistan after the Taliban's lightning takeover. "These events show that it has become more urgent than ever to back the political process in Iraq and involve its neighbours," a source close to Macron said. "A solution to security threats in the region, including Daesh, depends on a stable, sovereign and prosperous Iraq," the source added. A decade after the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, IS in June 2014 announced a "caliphate" in territory seized in Syria and Iraq, routing the badly prepared Iraqi army without a fight and seizing almost a third of the country. France was part of a US-led coalition established to battle the extremists. Iraq declared IS territorially defeated in December 2017, but the group still retains sleeper cells and continues to claim bloody attacks. New IS 'strides' One of the deadliest was a July bombing that ripped through a crowded Baghdad market, killing over 30 people on the eve of a key Muslim holiday. According to Colin Clarke, senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, IS "still has access to tens of millions of dollars and will likely continue to rebuild its network throughout Iraq and Syria". Its "primary goal at the moment is to have its affiliates maintain momentum until it can sufficiently rebuild its core in the Levant," he said. "(IS) affiliates in sub-Saharan Africa and now Afghanistan will have the opportunity to make strides in the coming year." In July, President Joe Biden said US combat operations in Iraq would end this year, but that US soldiers would continue to train, advise and support the country's military in the fight against IS. Washington currently has 2,500 troops deployed to Iraq. Rasha Al Aqeedi, senior analyst at Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy, said coalition forces believed Iraq's security personnel could prevent another IS advance. "Maybe they're not ideal, but they're good enough for America to leave the country believing that Iraq is not going to live through another 2014," she said.

Macron warns against IS as Afghanistan overshadows Iraq summit

The US struck back at the Islamic State on Saturday as it bombed a member of the ISIS-K in eastern Afghanistan in a retaliatory airstrike after a fatal suicide bombing claimed by the group killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members.

US strikes back at Islamic State after fatal suicide bombing near Kabul airport

In response to the deadly&nbsp;suicide attack on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;the United States military struck back at the Islamic State by bombing an IS member in Afghanistan on Saturday.&nbsp;The strike seems to have killed an Islamic State "planner".

The US Central Command said the strike took place in Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan.&nbsp;"Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties," the US military said in a statement, referring to the strike.

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The devastating suicide bombing, which was claimed by the group, killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members at the Kabul airport.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: ISIS-K: Group behind the Kabul blasts

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On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said the perpetrators cannot hide, and he vowed to strike back at the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate. "We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said.&nbsp;

A US official said on Friday, the suicide bomber seems to have carried around 25 pounds of explosives, loaded with shrapnel.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/afghanistan-staff-details-left-behind-at-uk-kabul-embassy-report-408865" hreflang="en">Afghanistan staff details left behind at UK Kabul embassy: Report</a>

The&nbsp;blast created by the&nbsp;massive amount of explosives and spray of shrapnel was such huge that it killed US troops, who were inside the airport gate as well as troops and Afghans outside, said the official on condition of anonymity.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-tells-citizens-to-leave-kabul-airport-gates-immediately-408913" hreflang="en">US tells citizens to leave Kabul airport gates 'immediately'</a>

Generally, a suicide bomber carries from five to 10 pounds of explosives.&nbsp;According to the US officials, the IS bomber got to within several yards of the gate at Kabul airport, where Afghans were crowded in as part of the ongoing evacuation from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Western forces are also running the Afghan airlift while bracing for more attacks.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In response to the deadly suicide attack on Thursday, the United States military struck back at the Islamic State by bombing an IS member in Afghanistan on Saturday.

In response to the deadly suicide attack on Thursday, the United States military struck back at the Islamic State by bombing an IS member in Afghanistan on Saturday. The strike seems to have killed an Islamic State "planner". The US Central Command said the strike took place in Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan. "Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties," the US military said in a statement, referring to the strike. The devastating suicide bombing, which was claimed by the group, killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members at the Kabul airport. Watch | Gravitas: ISIS-K: Group behind the Kabul blasts × On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said the perpetrators cannot hide, and he vowed to strike back at the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate. "We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said. A US official said on Friday, the suicide bomber seems to have carried around 25 pounds of explosives, loaded with shrapnel. Also Read | Afghanistan staff details left behind at UK Kabul embassy: Report The blast created by the massive amount of explosives and spray of shrapnel was such huge that it killed US troops, who were inside the airport gate as well as troops and Afghans outside, said the official on condition of anonymity. Also Read | US tells citizens to leave Kabul airport gates 'immediately' Generally, a suicide bomber carries from five to 10 pounds of explosives. According to the US officials, the IS bomber got to within several yards of the gate at Kabul airport, where Afghans were crowded in as part of the ongoing evacuation from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Western forces are also running the Afghan airlift while bracing for more attacks. (With inputs from agencies)

US airstrike targets IS in Afghanistan in response to deadly suicide attack

The deadly twin blast outside the Kabul Airport has now shaken the US administration to its core. In the attack, 13 US troops were killed. This has intensified political pressure on Joe Biden from all sides.

Deadly twin-blast at Kabul airport shakes US administration to its core

There were at least two explosions near Kabul's airport amid a huge and chaotic evacuation effort from Afghanistan. At least 13 were killed in the explosions. The attack was carried out by an ISIS bomber. US troops were also wounded in the blasts. Watch this report to know more. Former Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah said that my prayers are with the victims.

Kabul Airport Blast: Abdullah Abdullah says my prayers are with the victims

Three powerful blasts outside Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport claimed at least 60 lives on Thursday, as per numbers reported by BBC. 12&nbsp;US soldiers lost lives in the blast as well. The blasts took place even as hundreds of Afghans were gathered outside the airport in order to try and escape the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Taliban condemned the attack on Twitter. Two blasts took place in the evening while third took place hours later.

The attack created chaos at the airport. It came just hours after after Western nations warned of an imminent terror threat. The blasts came close to the August 31 deadline for US troops withdrawal.&nbsp;

Gruesome images

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, social media was flooded with gruesome images and videos. One of the unverified video also showed bodies semi-submerged in a canal near the airport.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/watch-chaotic-scenes-in-airport-hospital-after-kabul-airport-terror-attack-408595">WATCH: Chaotic scenes in airport, hospital after Kabul airport terror attack</a>

After the blasts, images posted on social media showed men ferrying injured people to safety in wheelbarrows.

In another picture, a boy was seen clutching the arm of a man whose clothes were soaked in blood.

The Pentagon said "a number" of US troops died in what spokesman John Kirby called a complex attack.

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US President Joe Biden had earlier cited an "acute" terrorist threat from the regional chapter of the Islamic State jihadist group.

The Taliban condemned the blasts, saying they were in an area under US military control.

"The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing targeting civilians at Kabul airport," said a statement released by Mujahid on Twitter.&nbsp;

Shortly after the blasts the White House said Biden was being briefed on the attack, delaying a planned meeting with Israel's visiting prime minister and cancelling another event.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said allied forces should continue to evacuate as many vulnerable people as they can from Kabul despite what he branded a "horrific terrorist attack".&nbsp;

Global condemnation

The tragedy drew international attention and global leaders and their offices condemned the attack

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I utterly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack in Kabul in which Afghans and members of the US military lost their lives. 
 
The threat of terrorist attack is one of the constraints we’ve been operating under, but our evacuation effort continues with over 12,000 extracted so far. <a href="https://t.co/DXCFPj9KQC">pic.twitter.com/DXCFPj9KQC</a>
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1430953808096595977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Statement on this morning's attack at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HKIA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HKIA</a>: <a href="https://t.co/Qb1DIAJQJU">pic.twitter.com/Qb1DIAJQJU</a>
— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec/status/1430941547541979141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Praying for the three U.S. Marines and innocent civilians injured in the terrorist attacks near Kabul Airport today. America must do whatever it takes to protect our troops and our citizens stranded in this disastrous withdrawal. God bless them all.
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Pence/status/1430923085515997187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Islamic State threat

Though it has not accepted the responsibility officially, it is suspected that Islamic State is behind the attack.

In recent years, the Islamic State's Afghanistan-Pakistan chapter has been responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in those countries.

It has massacred civilians at mosques, shrines, public squares and even hospitals.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/isis-khorasan-what-you-should-know-408623">ISIS-Khorasan: What you should know</a>

The group has especially targeted Muslims from sects it considers heretical, including Shiites.

But while IS and the Taliban are both hardline Sunni Islamist militants, they are rivals and oppose each other.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Three powerful blasts outside Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport claimed at least 60 lives on Thursday, as per numbers reported by BBC. 12 US soldiers lost lives in the blast as well.

Three powerful blasts outside Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport claimed at least 60 lives on Thursday, as per numbers reported by BBC. 12 US soldiers lost lives in the blast as well. The blasts took place even as hundreds of Afghans were gathered outside the airport in order to try and escape the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Taliban condemned the attack on Twitter. Two blasts took place in the evening while third took place hours later. The attack created chaos at the airport. It came just hours after after Western nations warned of an imminent terror threat. The blasts came close to the August 31 deadline for US troops withdrawal. Gruesome images In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, social media was flooded with gruesome images and videos. One of the unverified video also showed bodies semi-submerged in a canal near the airport. WATCH: Chaotic scenes in airport, hospital after Kabul airport terror attack After the blasts, images posted on social media showed men ferrying injured people to safety in wheelbarrows. In another picture, a boy was seen clutching the arm of a man whose clothes were soaked in blood. The Pentagon said "a number" of US troops died in what spokesman John Kirby called a complex attack. × US President Joe Biden had earlier cited an "acute" terrorist threat from the regional chapter of the Islamic State jihadist group. The Taliban condemned the blasts, saying they were in an area under US military control. "The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing targeting civilians at Kabul airport," said a statement released by Mujahid on Twitter. Shortly after the blasts the White House said Biden was being briefed on the attack, delaying a planned meeting with Israel's visiting prime minister and cancelling another event. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said allied forces should continue to evacuate as many vulnerable people as they can from Kabul despite what he branded a "horrific terrorist attack". Global condemnation The tragedy drew international attention and global leaders and their offices condemned the attack I utterly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack in Kabul in which Afghans and members of the US military lost their lives. The threat of terrorist attack is one of the constraints we’ve been operating under, but our evacuation effort continues with over 12,000 extracted so far. pic.twitter.com/DXCFPj9KQC — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) August 26, 2021 × Statement on this morning's attack at #HKIA: pic.twitter.com/Qb1DIAJQJU — John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021 × Praying for the three U.S. Marines and innocent civilians injured in the terrorist attacks near Kabul Airport today. America must do whatever it takes to protect our troops and our citizens stranded in this disastrous withdrawal. God bless them all. — Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 26, 2021 × Islamic State threat Though it has not accepted the responsibility officially, it is suspected that Islamic State is behind the attack. In recent years, the Islamic State's Afghanistan-Pakistan chapter has been responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in those countries. It has massacred civilians at mosques, shrines, public squares and even hospitals. Also Read | ISIS-Khorasan: What you should know The group has especially targeted Muslims from sects it considers heretical, including Shiites. But while IS and the Taliban are both hardline Sunni Islamist militants, they are rivals and oppose each other. (With inputs from agencies)

Kabul's evening of mayhem: 12 US soldiers among 60 killed in terror attacks, say reports

There were at least two explosions near Kabul's airport amid a huge and chaotic evacuation effort from Afghanistan. At least 13 were killed in the explosions. The attack was carried out by an ISIS bomber. US troops were also wounded in the blasts. Watch this report to know more.

Kabul Airport Blast: Dual blasts hit Kabul evacuation

At least 60 Afghan civilians and 13 US service members have died at the Kabul airport on Thursday when two blasts ripped through crowds trying to enter the American-controlled facility, disrupting the final push of the US-led evacuation effort.

Kabul Airport Blast: 60 Afghans & 13 US troops killed in suicide bomb attack

The United States President Joe Biden paid tribute to US soldiers who lost their lives in suicide bomb blasts at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan on Thursday (August 26) and hailed them as "selfless heroes".&nbsp;

Latest media reports said citing sources in hospitals and Taliban a official that at least 72 civilians,&nbsp;who were waiting outside Kabul airport to flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan,&nbsp;have been killed in the explosions.

The US Defense Department said that the number of American troops killed in the suicide bomb blasts&nbsp;at Kabul airport rose by one to 13.&nbsp;

"A thirteenth US service member has died from his wounds suffered as a result of the attack on Abbey Gate," Central Command spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks that killed scores of Afghans.

Biden also issued a stern warning to those who are responsible for the attacks that caused mayhem at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport amid the mass evacuation of thousands of people from Afghanistan.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | I<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/isis-khorasan-what-you-should-know-408623">SIS- Khorasan: What you should know</a>

Joe Biden has promised to avenge the fallen soldiers, who according to the President were engaged "in a dangerous mission to save the lives of others" and said that the United States will "hunt down" the attackers and "make them pay".&nbsp;

"For those who carried out this attack as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said in an address at the White House on Thursday.&nbsp;

Biden also informed that he has asked the Pentagon to develop plans to strike back at Islamist militants. He said, "I've also ordered my commanders to develop operational plans to strike ISIS-K assets, leadership and facilities."&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-is-second-home-to-the-taliban-says-spokesperson-zabihullah-mujahid-408534">Pakistan is second home to the Taliban, says spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid</a>

Watch Joe Biden's address here:

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Watch as I deliver remarks on the terror attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport, and the U.S. service members and Afghan victims killed and wounded. <a href="https://t.co/NBv02m3Bpm">https://t.co/NBv02m3Bpm</a>
— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1431004614283993104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The American service members who gave their lives were heroes. Heroes who have been engaged in a dangerous, selfless mission to save the lives of others. We have a continuing obligation — a sacred obligation — to their families that will last forever.
— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1431034088790581249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"We will respond with force and precision at the place we choose and a moment of our choosing," Biden added further affirming that the August 31 deadline for all US troops to leave Afghanistan and added that the US forces will evacuate as many people as possible before that date.

"We will not be deterred by terrorists. We will not let them stop our mission. We will continue the evacuation," Biden said.&nbsp;

"We'll rescue the American citizens from Afghanistan. We'll get our Afghan allies out and our mission will go on," he added.&nbsp;

"Knowing the threat, knowing that we may very well have another attack, the military has concluded that that's what we should do. I think they are right," The US President added.&nbsp;

The United States President Joe Biden paid tribute to US soldiers who lost their lives in suicide bomb blasts at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan on Thursday (August 26) and hailed them as "selfless heroes".

The United States President Joe Biden paid tribute to US soldiers who lost their lives in suicide bomb blasts at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan on Thursday (August 26) and hailed them as "selfless heroes". Latest media reports said citing sources in hospitals and Taliban a official that at least 72 civilians, who were waiting outside Kabul airport to flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, have been killed in the explosions. The US Defense Department said that the number of American troops killed in the suicide bomb blasts at Kabul airport rose by one to 13. "A thirteenth US service member has died from his wounds suffered as a result of the attack on Abbey Gate," Central Command spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks that killed scores of Afghans. Biden also issued a stern warning to those who are responsible for the attacks that caused mayhem at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport amid the mass evacuation of thousands of people from Afghanistan. ALSO READ | ISIS- Khorasan: What you should know Joe Biden has promised to avenge the fallen soldiers, who according to the President were engaged "in a dangerous mission to save the lives of others" and said that the United States will "hunt down" the attackers and "make them pay". "For those who carried out this attack as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said in an address at the White House on Thursday. Biden also informed that he has asked the Pentagon to develop plans to strike back at Islamist militants. He said, "I've also ordered my commanders to develop operational plans to strike ISIS-K assets, leadership and facilities." ALSO READ | Pakistan is second home to the Taliban, says spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid Watch Joe Biden's address here: Watch as I deliver remarks on the terror attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport, and the U.S. service members and Afghan victims killed and wounded. https://t.co/NBv02m3Bpm — President Biden (@POTUS) August 26, 2021 × The American service members who gave their lives were heroes. Heroes who have been engaged in a dangerous, selfless mission to save the lives of others. We have a continuing obligation — a sacred obligation — to their families that will last forever. — President Biden (@POTUS) August 26, 2021 × "We will respond with force and precision at the place we choose and a moment of our choosing," Biden added further affirming that the August 31 deadline for all US troops to leave Afghanistan and added that the US forces will evacuate as many people as possible before that date. "We will not be deterred by terrorists. We will not let them stop our mission. We will continue the evacuation," Biden said. "We'll rescue the American citizens from Afghanistan. We'll get our Afghan allies out and our mission will go on," he added. "Knowing the threat, knowing that we may very well have another attack, the military has concluded that that's what we should do. I think they are right," The US President added.

'Will hunt you down': Joe Biden warns Kabul bombers, vows to avenge deaths of US soldiers

At least 10 US troops, including four Marines, have been killed in the twin bomb attack that took place near the Kabul Airport on Thursday, and several others have been injured.

"We can confirm that a number of US service members were killed in today's complex attack on Kabul airport," spokesman John Kirby confirmed. "A number of others are being treated for wounds."

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-twin-blasts-rock-kabul-13-killed-60-injured-at-afghanistan-evacuation-site-408582" hreflang="en">Live | Twin blasts rock Kabul: 60 killed, 140 injured at Afghan evacuation site</a></h2>

A statement from the Pentagon confirmed the news that several US troops have been killed in the attack and many others are being treated for their injuries.

"We can confirm that a number of U.S. service members were killed in today’s complex attack at Kabul airport. A number of others are being treated for wounds. We also know that a number of Afghans fell victim to this heinous attack," the statement read. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and injured."

<img alt="Kabul airport attack - Pentagon" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cca54cd5-11f3-45fe-a3ab-4d5381c50753" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kabul%20airport%20attack%20%289%29.jpg" />

Meanwhile, Taliban also openly condemned these blasts labelling it to be 'evil circles'. "The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing of civilians at Kabul airport, which took place in an area where US forces are responsible for security,"&nbsp;a tweet from the official Twitter account of the spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, read. "The Islamic Emirate is paying close attention to the security and protection of its people, and evil circles will be strictly stopped."

The US suspects that the Kabul airport attacks have been carried out by members of Islamic State-Khorasan, who were reportedly unhappy with Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

At least 10 US troops, including four Marines, have been killed in the twin bomb attack that took place near the Kabul Airport on Thursday, and several others have been injured.

At least 10 US troops, including four Marines, have been killed in the twin bomb attack that took place near the Kabul Airport on Thursday, and several others have been injured. "We can confirm that a number of US service members were killed in today's complex attack on Kabul airport," spokesman John Kirby confirmed. "A number of others are being treated for wounds." Live | Twin blasts rock Kabul: 60 killed, 140 injured at Afghan evacuation site A statement from the Pentagon confirmed the news that several US troops have been killed in the attack and many others are being treated for their injuries. "We can confirm that a number of U.S. service members were killed in today’s complex attack at Kabul airport. A number of others are being treated for wounds. We also know that a number of Afghans fell victim to this heinous attack," the statement read. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and injured." Meanwhile, Taliban also openly condemned these blasts labelling it to be 'evil circles'. "The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing of civilians at Kabul airport, which took place in an area where US forces are responsible for security," a tweet from the official Twitter account of the spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, read. "The Islamic Emirate is paying close attention to the security and protection of its people, and evil circles will be strictly stopped." The US suspects that the Kabul airport attacks have been carried out by members of Islamic State-Khorasan, who were reportedly unhappy with Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

At least 10 US troops killed and many injured in Kabul airport attack: Pentagon

12 days into the rushed evacuation process from Kabul and five days before its scheduled completion, deadly suicide attacks evolved at Kabul airport. But, US President Joe Biden remained undeterred from the evacuation mission.

Biden remains undeterred from US evacuation mission despite Kabul airport blast

The Taliban has named key ministerial posts, where the group's senior veterans have been appointed for the post of finance minister and defence minister.

Taliban appoint senior veterans as finance and defence minister in Afghanistan

US President Joe Biden has met with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Iran's nuclear program was the main on the meeting agenda.

US President Joe Biden's remarks after meeting Israeli PM

World leaders condemned the bomb blasts on Thursday which tore through crowds of people at Kabul airport who were hoping to board flights to safety.

Kabul Airport Blasts: World leaders react to 'cowardly', 'inhuman' suicide bomb attack

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