IS Claims Responsibility for Rocket Launcher Attack at Kabul Airport

Rocket Launch Targeting Kabul Airport... US Defense System Intercepts
Uncertainty Remains Over Complete Interception... Casualties Unknown

On the 30th (local time), a Taliban member is standing guard in front of a vehicle used in a rocket launcher attack targeting Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] On the 30th (local time), the day before the deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, the extremist armed group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the rocket attack targeting Kabul Airport, the capital of Afghanistan.

Major foreign media reported that IS fired six rockets at Kabul Airport on that day and claimed responsibility for the attack via Telegram. Although a U.S. official stated that the attack might have been carried out by IS-K (Islamic State Khorasan), the local branch of the Islamic State, it was too early to jump to conclusions, IS itself stepped forward to claim the act.

Earlier that morning, rockets were fired targeting Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. A U.S. official said that the U.S. military defense system intercepted the rockets but added that it was uncertain whether all rockets were intercepted. The Associated Press, citing local witnesses, reported that rockets also struck the Salim Karwan area near the airport. Local foreign media also reported that rockets fell in several places within Kabul. TOLOnews reported that five out of six rockets were intercepted.

U.S. CNN reported that the Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) defense system was activated to intercept the rockets. C-RAM is known to consist of cameras that detect the movement of incoming rockets and an interception system. Over the past few years, the U.S. military has deployed C-RAM at key facilities such as Bagram Air Base and other local military bases and airports.

Meanwhile, no casualties from the rocket attack have been reported. The situation was also reported to U.S. President Joe Biden. The White House stated, "President Biden reaffirmed the order to do whatever is necessary to protect U.S. troops on the ground."

At Kabul Airport, final evacuation operations are underway ahead of the withdrawal deadline. On the 26th, a suicide bombing attack by IS-K at Kabul Airport killed 13 U.S. soldiers. It is reported that Afghan civilian deaths have reached 170. In response, the U.S. military conducted an airstrike on a vehicle in Kabul the previous day suspected of posing an additional suicide bombing threat. Reports also emerged that civilians were killed during this operation. CNN, citing the families of the victims, reported that nine members of a family, including six children, died in the airstrike.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.