‘Another terror attack in Kabul is likely,’ national security chiefs warn Biden

“The next few days of this mission will be the most dangerous period to date,” they told Biden, according to a White House statement.

In response, Biden reaffirmed his “approval of all authorities they need to conduct the operation and protect our troops,” said the White House. The generals confirmed to the president that they had the resources they believed they needed to do so effectively.

Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, said Thursday that ISIS is likely to try to continue attacks before the evacuations conclude.

McKenzie, who oversees U.S. military operations in the region, said the threats against Western forces and civilians at the airport ranged from gunfire to rockets to suicide bombings.

“So very, very real threat streams, what we would call tactical that means imminent, could occur at any moment,” he said.

Military commanders also updated Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday on plans to develop targets among ISIS-K, the splinter group of Islamic militants who claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack.

Biden alluded to these plans in remarks he gave on Thursday evening.

“We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay,” said Biden, speaking from the White House.

“We will find ways of our choosing, without large military operations, to get them, wherever they are.”

— CNBC’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/27/biden-warned-another-kabul-terror-attack-is-likely.html