WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;have&nbsp;killed&nbsp;an Islamic State militant who was the "mastermind" behind a suicide&nbsp;attack&nbsp;at&nbsp;Kabul's international&nbsp;airport&nbsp;in 2021 that&nbsp;killed&nbsp;13&nbsp;U.S. troops and scores of civilians during the United States' chaotic evacuation from the country,&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;officials&nbsp;said on Tuesday.
The bombing occurred on Aug. 26, 2021, as&nbsp;U.S. troops were trying to help Americans and Afghans flee in the chaotic aftermath of the&nbsp;Taliban's takeover, and compounded America's sense of defeat after 20 years of war.
"He was a key ISIS-K official directly involved in plotting operations like Abbey Gate, and now is no longer able to plot or conduct&nbsp;attacks," White House spokesperson John Kirby said in a statement, referring to the Abbey Gate entrance to the&nbsp;Kabul&nbsp;airport&nbsp;where the blast occurred. He did not name the official.
The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, known as Islamic State Khorasan or ISIS-K, after an old name of the region, is an enemy of the&nbsp;Taliban. Fighters loyal to Islamic State first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in 2014 and later made inroads in other areas.
&nbsp;
(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

you might like

Kabul airport attack 'mastermind' killed by Taliban - U.S. officials