President Biden has issued an announcement on the immediate future of U.S. operations in Afghanistan: More terrorist attacks are “highly likely” in the next 24-36 hours. The president gave the update in a White House statement on Saturday, provided in full below.
“This morning, I met with my national security team in Washington and my commanders in the field. We discussed the strike that U.S. forces took last night against the terrorist group ISIS-K in Afghanistan,” Biden’s statement said. “I said we would go after the group responsible for the attack on our troops and innocent civilians in Kabul, and we have,” he claimed.
“This strike was not the last,” he said. “We will continue to hunt down any person involved in that heinous attack and make them pay. Whenever anyone seeks to harm the United States or attack our troops, we will respond. That will never be in doubt. I thanked General McKenzie for his leadership of that mission, and for his commitment to the safety of our troops in Afghanistan.”
“The situation on the ground continues to be extremely dangerous, and the threat of terrorist attacks on the airport remains high,” he continued. “Our commanders informed me that an attack is highly likely in the next 24-36 hours.”
“I directed them to take every possible measure to prioritize force protection, and ensured that they have all the authorities, resources and plans to protect our men and women on the ground,” he went on. “They assured me that they did, and that they could take these measures while completing the mission and safely retrograding our personnel.”
“Despite the treacherous situation in Kabul, we are continuing to evacuate civilians,” he said. “Yesterday, we brought out another 6,800 people, including hundreds of Americans. And today, we discussed the ongoing preparations to help people continue to leave Afghanistan after our military departs.”
“The 13 service members that we lost were heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others,” Biden’s statement added. “Their bravery and selflessness has enabled more than 117,000 people at risk to reach safety thus far. May God protect our troops and all those standing watch in these dangerous days.”
As reported on Thursday, 13 U.S. military members were killed by suicide bombings at Kabul airport. After the U.S. retaliated with a drone bombing against two “planners” that were purportedly involved in the suicide attacks, the Taliban condemned the “attack on Afghan territory.”
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