25 ISIS Killed, 31 Wounded in Eastern Afghanistan Airstrikes

Afghan DM: Attacks Targeted ISIS Meetings

Airstrikes against ISIS targets in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar Province, near the key city of Jalalabad, have killed at least 25 ISIS fighters and wounded 31 others. ISIS has made this area their primary base of operation in Afghanistan.

According to Defense Ministry officials, the attack targeted a pair of ISIS “gatherings” organized by a pair of the group’s Afghanistan leaders. One of those leaders, Sayyed Amarati, was reportedly killed in the attack, though this has yet to be confirmed.

Though it was not clear who carried out the airstrikes, they were assumed to be launched by the NATO coalition. Afghan Defense Ministry officials credited their own troops with providing the coordinates for the attacks.

ISIS is becoming a growing concern across Afghanistan, with estimates earlier this month that they have as many as 3,000 fighters in the country. They have sought to supplant the Taliban in some districts, particularly in Nangarhar, and have been recruiting nationwide.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.