However, in a controversial move, President Donald Trump last month ordered the USA military to deploy the deadliest non-nuclear bomb in the world. The attack triggered global shockwaves, as observers questioned the bomb’s use against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat to Afghanistan as the Taleban.
The afghan faction of hardcore militant group is believed to have links with the main Islamic State movement in Iraq and Syria but has considerable operational independence.
USA officials estimate that there are now 600 to 800 ISIS-K militants in Afghanistan, down from 3,000 in 2015.
The U.S. commander in Afghanistan wants 3,000 more troops and Pentagon officials told Congress this week that the war plan recommendations being sent to Trump are aimed at moving “beyond the stalemate” with the ISIS-affiliated Taliban insurgency.
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson confirmed the killing and promised that “any ISIS member that comes to Afghanistan will meet the same fate”.
Cameron Thomas, 23, were killed in the April 27 operation in Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan. The amount of opposition caused them to call in support from drones, Apache helicopters, and fighter jets.
Islamic State has come under increased pressure after expanding its foothold in Afghanistan.
Since March, U.S. and Afghan special forces, backed by airstrikes, have been fighting to eradicate ISIS-K, primarily in Nangarhar.
This is not the first the radio station of ISIS loyalists has been destroyed during the counter-terrorism operations in Nangarhar province.
As part of the President Trump administration’s efforts to defeat ISIS, the commander-in-chief granted Gen. Nicholson and other top commanders more freedom to launch attacks against ISIS and other terrorists.
Several other senior leaders of the Islamic State group were also killed in the operation, which took place in the Nangarhar Province, the same area where the U.S. had dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on April 13.
A USA soldier is seen near the site of a US bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan.
It was the third major blow in recent months to the Islamic State in Khorasan, or ISIS-K, the regional branch of the Sunni extremist militia.
Source: Appsforpcdaily
