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Pentagon warns that terror splinter group ISIS-K is 'targeting' evacuation planes leaving Kabul and airport gates packed with desperate Afghans

  Pentagon commanders have warned that an Afghan-based Islamic State-offshoot called ISIS-K are 'targeting' evacuation planes flying...

 Pentagon commanders have warned that an Afghan-based Islamic State-offshoot called ISIS-K are 'targeting' evacuation planes flying out of Kabul. 

The threat comes from an ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan known as ISIS-K, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province. ISIS announced its expansion to the Khorasan region in 2015, which historically encompasses parts of modern day Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Joe Biden on Tuesday evening warned of the threat posed by ISIS-K, but Pentagon officials gave more detail in a closed-door briefing to Congress, which was relayed to Politico by three congressional aides and another source familiar with the intelligence.

'Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops,' Biden said. 

'ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack U.S. and allied forces and innocent civilians.' 

Further details on their plots were not shared - but U.S. forces left hordes of powerful weapons behind after withdrawing across Afghanistan, which could now be used against its own personnel.

US planes landing at Kabul Airport earlier this week were also spotted doing steep 'diving combat' landings in a bid to avoid potential attack, and were photographed dropping flares which could draw away any missiles fired at them.  

Joe Biden on Tuesday evening warned about the growing threat posed by ISIS-K in Kabul

Joe Biden on Tuesday evening warned about the growing threat posed by ISIS-K in Kabul


The officials said that the security situation around the airport had significantly deteriorated in recent days, given the new terror threats, and contributed to Biden's decision not to declare an extension of the August 31 deadline for all U.S. troops to leave.

ISIS-K is targeting airport gates - which have seen thousands of people gather in a bid to flee - as well as military and commercial aircraft evacuating people from the capital city, the sources told Politico. 


They said the Defense Department officials told the meeting they are trying to mitigate the threats as best as possible. 

Gates at the airport were closed because of the security threat, the sources said.

Captain Bill Urban, U.S. Central Command spokesman, confirmed that the threat remained high and that forces were on high alert at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA).

'The U.S. has been transparent that there is an active and continuing threat from ISIS,' he said. 

A family is seen leaving Kabul airport on Tuesday. Pentagon officials warn that the terror threat has significantly increased in recent days

A family is seen leaving Kabul airport on Tuesday. Pentagon officials warn that the terror threat has significantly increased in recent days

Taliban fighters stand guard outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport on Tuesday

Taliban fighters stand guard outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport on Tuesday

A soldier stands guard on the perimeter of Kabul airport on Tuesday

A soldier stands guard on the perimeter of Kabul airport on Tuesday

Soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division escort a group of people to the terminal at Hamid Karzai International Airport on Monday

Soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division escort a group of people to the terminal at Hamid Karzai International Airport on Monday

Two women are escorted by a U.S. Marine towards a U.S. Air Force plane, to depart Kabul on Tuesday

Two women are escorted by a U.S. Marine towards a U.S. Air Force plane, to depart Kabul on Tuesday

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