The Taliban have reportedly killed the Islamic State terrorist who orchestrated a deadly attack against U.S. troops in Afghanistan during the August, 2021, withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country.
Eleven U.S. Marines, one Navy sailor, and one Army trooper died in the deadly Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing, according to Fox News. More than 150 civilians died and 18 more U.S. servicemembers sustained injuries.
The outlet cited a government official who indicated that the individual who directed the bombing had been killed in a "Taliban operation." The U.S. government insists it did not conduct a joint operation with the Taliban.
"We view this operation as emblematic of a landscape in Afghanistan. It has become very challenging for terrorists, like ISIS-K, who might seek to engage in the type of external plotting that could harm Americans," the official said.
The official appeared to indicate that Taliban efforts to eliminate the terrorist group had sent a message to terrorist militants that they would be held accountable for attacks on U.S. troops.
"Regardless of who carried out the operation, the fact that this result was achieved, and this person who’s had American blood on his hands is himself no longer on the battlefield and able to perpetrate further violence, we think that is development worth communicating to grieving families," the official said.
The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. After 20 years of intense guerilla warfare, the Taliban reclaimed control of the country from the U.S.-backed Islamic Republic and have attempted to eliminate the Islamic State's Khorasan branch, ISIS-K, which has resisted Taliban control of the region.
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