The Taliban claims to have killed the ISIS terrorist who planned a deadly attack on U.S. troops in Afghanistan during the country's chaotic withdrawal in August 2021.
On August 26, 2021, a suicide bombing at Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai International Airport left 13 Americans dead: 11 Marines, one Navy sailor and one Army soldier. Some 170 Afghan civilians were also killed and another 18 U.S. military personnel were wounded.
Taliban fighters have killed the senior ISIL (ISIS) group leader behind the deadly suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport in August 2021 https://t.co/wlFnnKmNHC pic.twitter.com/E83jnjtnDd
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 26, 2023
The Associated Press reported that the suspected terrorist was killed by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan in early April during a series of military operations against ISIS. The article cited U.S. officials and the father of a Marine killed in that attack. The agency reported a statement from the Pentagon Press Secretary, Patrick Ryder, who confirmed the death of the ISIS leader and assured that the U.S. government did not conduct a joint operation with the Taliban.
According to U.S. officials, the terrorist was responsible for the airport attack. Intelligence services determined that the ringleader was a key conspirator and overseer of ISIS in Afghanistan. However, the terrorist's identity has yet to be revealed.