The US carried out a drone strike early Saturday on an "ISIS-K planner" in eastern Afghanistan, according to a US Central Command (CENTCOM) official.

The senior terrorist for the Afghan affiliate of the Daesh/ISIS terror group is believed to be involved in organizing a recent deadly attack outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul where thousands of people have been camped for weeks in hopes of leaving Afghanistan after a Taliban takeover.

The terror attack claimed at least 170 lived, including 13 US soldiers, said CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Bill Urban.

The Taliban seized control of most of Afghanistan after lightning advances that included the capital, Kabul, on Aug. 15, forcing former President Ashraf Ghani and top officials to leave the country.

"Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties," said Urban, referring to the retaliatory operation with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the eastern province of Nangarhar.

US President Joe Biden confirmed Thursday that the attacks were carried out by the ISIS-K terror group. He promised to respond with "force and precision."

Daesh/ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the attacks, according to a statement by the group.

US forces are in control of the airport as evacuations continue -- the only area of the country still under US control.

The White House noted Friday that its national security team warned Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of the possibility of further terror attacks in Kabul./agencies

Occupied Palestine

At least 15 Palestinians on Friday sustained injuries along with dozens others suffering from tear gas inhalation when the “Israeli” forces suppressed anti-settlement rallies in the occupied West Bank.

A rally took place in the Beita village in protest of building a settlement on the Palestinian-owned lands on Mt. Sbeih near the village.

The Palestinian Red Crescent society in Beita said its medical teams treated two Palestinians from rubber-coated bullets and five others from being hit by teargas canisters in addition to treating dozens from the teargas inhalation.

Despite a decision by the “Israeli” authorities on July 2 to vacate the settlement, the “Israeli” army still controls the area where Palestinians demand reclaiming their lands.

In the Kafr Qaddoum village, east of the northern Qalqilya city, eight Palestinians suffered injuries from the rubber-coated bullets used by the “Israeli” forces to suppress the anti-settlement rally along with dozens of others who were affected by the teargas.

A third anti-settlement rally was also reported in the Beit Dajan village, east of the Nablus city, while no injuries have been reported so far.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency that the “Israeli” forces detained seven Palestinian journalists while covering the Friday prayer on lands in the Um al-Shaqhan area, south of the Hebron city, threatened to be taken in favor of an “Israeli” settlement.

The journalists were released from “Israeli” detention after signing on pledges to return for further investigations with them on Sunday, according to Palestinian local media.

According to the “Israeli” and Palestinian estimates, there are about 650,000 settlers in West Bank settlements, including occupied Jerusalem, who live in 164 settlements and 116 outposts./agencies

British nationals have been confirmed to be among the dead following Thursday’s twin bombings at the Afghan capital Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Two British nationals and the child of another were killed in the attacks on the Kabul airport that were claimed by Daesh’s Afghanistan affiliate ISIS-K.

“I was deeply saddened to learn that two British nationals and the child of another British national were killed by yesterday’s terror attack, with two more injured,” UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.

“These were innocent people and it is a tragedy that as they sought to bring their loved ones to safety in the UK they were murdered by cowardly terrorists,” the foreign minister added.

Raab made clear that Thursday's attacks underline the many dangers facing Afghanistan after the withdrawal of international forces and the collapse of the government of former President Ashraf Ghani following the Taliban takeover more than a week ago.

“We will not turn our backs on those who look to us in their hour of need, and we will never be cowed by terrorists.”

Despite the reassurance of not leaving those most vulnerable behind, the UK government confirmed on Friday morning that the British military entered its final hours of evacuation and admitted that "not everybody will be able to leave.”

“We will process the people that we’ve brought with us, the 1,000 people approximately in the airfield now and we will seek a way to continue to find a few people in the crowds where we can, but overall the main processing is now closed and we have a matter of hours.”

“The sad fact is not every single one will get out.”

At least 170 people were killed in Thursday's bombings outside the airport in Afghanistan's capital. Among the dead were 12 US servicemen and Taliban guards./aa

The Pentagon on Friday dismissed reports of a second explosion "at or near the Baron Hotel," which is a short distance from the Abbey Gate in Kabul on Thursday.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby and Mj. Gen. Hank Taylor, the deputy director of the Joint Staff For Regional Operations, held a press briefing on Friday, providing information on the latest developments in Afghanistan following the deadly blasts outside Kabul's airport that killed at least 170 people, including 13 US soldiers, with dozens of others wounded.

"We have a lot of additional detail to offer you about the attack yesterday at the Abbey gate. But, I can confirm for you that we did not believe that there was a second explosion at or near the Baron hotel. It was one suicide bomber," said Taylor, dismissing the reports.

Underlining that information could be "misreported or garbled" in "very dynamic events" such as the latest deadly blasts in the Afghan capital, the US major general said the "second explosion" was "controlled detonations of equipment."

He further noted that "there will be other equipment and material things that will not be brought back" to the US as the mission approaches the end of August.

"We want to prioritize passenger seats as much as possible, so you're going to continue to see things disposed of in a responsible way as we get closer to the end of the mission," he added.

Taylor also stressed that evacuations were ongoing despite the events on Thursday, as he said a total of 12,500 evacuees are "now safely out of Afghanistan in a 24-hour period."

"In the past 24 hours, more than 300 American citizens were evacuated from Afghanistan, bringing our updated total to approximately 5,100," he said, adding that the total number of evacuees from the war-torn country had reached 110,000.

He said there were "approximately 5,400 individuals in the airport" waiting for a flight out of Afghanistan.

"We have the ability to include evacuees on US military airlift out of Afghanistan until the very end," Taylor added.

While Taylor said the Daesh/ISIS terror group, believed to be behind the attack, "will not deter us from accomplishing" the evacuation mission, Kirby said the threat posed by ISIS "is real. And nobody wants to see that threat grow."

For his part, Kirby affirmed that the Defense Department continues "to support the State Department in providing temporary housing sustainment and support inside the United States for a capacity of up to 50,000 Afghan special immigrant visa applicants, their families, and other at-risk individuals."

The Taliban seized control of most of Afghanistan in recent lightning advances that captured Kabul on Aug. 15, forcing President Ashraf Ghani and other top officials to leave the country.

Compounding the already-escalating international crisis, two suicide bombers detonated bombs outside Kabul airport on Thursday.

ISIS-K has claimed responsibility for the attacks./agencies

Turkey's president on Friday said the death toll in Thursday's terror attacks in Kabul has reached 170.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks came during his one-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital Sarajevo.

"Unfortunately, the world, along with Afghanistan, is now locked on a single spot," Erdogan noted.

He said, "Countries that say are the strongest in the world ... should have withdrawn (from countries they entered) more sensitively and cautiously," adding: "These withdrawals did not happen as they said. Unfortunately, withdrawing from these countries by handing them over to terrorist organizations produces heavy consequences."

It is impossible to think that Turkey or any other country would benefit from the conflict between terror groups in Afghanistan, he added.

Addressing the media, Erdogan said Turkey has evacuated all its teams and civilians from Afghanistan, while there is currently only a small number of technical personnel in the country.

He also noted that Turkey will discuss future steps and plans on NATO's position on Afghanistan.

“The evacuation of heroic Turkish Armed Forces personnel, who successfully performed their duty in Afghanistan for 20 years, has been completed,” the Turkish National Defense Ministry tweeted late Friday.

The Turkish president on Friday arrived in Sarajevo, the first stop on his western Balkan mini-tour visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Montenegro.

On Saturday, Erdogan will arrive in Podgorica, the capital of neighboring Montenegro, at the invitation of President Milo Djukanovic./aa

Turkey's president on Friday attended the reopening of a 16th-century mosque in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Underlining that the Bascarsija Mosque was one of the symbols of the city of Sarajevo, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "We took action six years ago to restore this work ... to its former glory."

Speaking at the event, Erdogan urged Muslims to take their children, especially their daughters, to mosques, which he said were centers of "knowledge, wisdom, learning, and teaching," as well as symbols of all members of the religion.

Non-Muslims were also welcome at mosques, he added. "We must ensure that our non-Muslim friends can come here with peace of mind, without hesitation or fear."

"I'd like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the restoration of this (Bascarsija) mosque. I say, God bless our brothers and sisters from Sarajevo who will revive this work with their prayers, dhikrs (recitations), and supplications," said Erdogan.

The Bascarsija Mosque was built in 1527 on Bascarsija square at the center of Sarajevo.

It was badly damaged in a fire in 1697. In 1762, the paint and pencil works of the mosque were renewed by Mehmed Pasha Muhsinovic.

During the Bosnian war between 1992 and 1995, the mosque's dome, minaret, outer walls, and interior were severely damaged. Urgent repairs were later made so the mosque could be reopened for use.

Turkey's General Directorate of Foundations recently made additional repairs on the structure's facade and its dome.

Known for its strong acoustics, the historical mosque was declared a national monument in 2006.

It has now been restored by Turkey's Foundations Directorate General.

Erdogan on Friday arrived in Sarajevo, the first stop on his western Balkan mini-tour visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Montenegro.

On Saturday Erdogan will arrive in Podgorica, the capital of the neighboring Montenegro, at the invitation of President Milo Djukanovic./aa

Targeting city’s financial heart, Extinction Rebellion protesters continued their protests on Friday in London.

Hundreds of protesters gathered midday in front of the Bank of England to protest against the government for a system change for a better future for the planet.

A group of drummers and protesters marched through the City of London, the city’s financial hub where dozens of financial institutions are located.

Two protesters painted the sign and the entrance of Standard Chartered building after climbing its front gate. Police formed a cordon to block protesters from entering the building.

The group continued to march through the district and reached the Museum of London, where two demonstrators glued themselves to the windows of a building.

The organization's “Impossible Rebellion” protest demands an end to investment in the fossil fuels driving climate change.

The Extinction Rebellion protests come only two months before the UN climate summit COP26 to be hosted by the UK on Oct. 31-Nov. 12.

World leaders are expected to meet in Glasgow "to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change."

More than 200 protesters have been arrested so far, according to police. In similar protests from the group in 2019, more than 1,600 people were arrested.

The group says protests will continue this weekend and during the Monday bank holiday./agencies

The World Health Organization is monitoring 2,200 health facilities in Afghanistan's 34 provinces but they look to have only a few days of supplies left, with the airport in the capital Kabul not looking safe as a gateway after terror attacks, a WHO official said Friday.

At a UN press conference, Dr. Rick Brennan, the WHO's regional emergency director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, said medical supplies might have to start coming through Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport in northern Afghanistan.

At the same press conference, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Rupert Colville condemned Thursday's terror attack around Kabul airport by the ISIS-K terrorist group – the Afghan affiliate of Daesh/ISIS – which killed at least 110 people.

"The terrorist attack at Kabul airport yesterday was a horrendous move," said Colville, describing it as an "attack specifically designed to cause carnage."

"It was clearly calculated to kill and maim as many people as possible: civilians – children, women, fathers, mothers, as well as Taliban, and foreign forces protecting the airport."

Brennan said that there are multiple security and logistics constraints at Kabul airport.

"We expect that we will be able to bring in more supplies in the coming days with the support of the Pakistan government," he said, explaining that Kabul airport is not "is not an option for bringing in humanitarian supplies" at this stage.

Mazar-i-Sharif airport

"And so, we are likely to use Mazar-i-Sharif airport," said Brennan.

He added, "The more sobering news is that these health facilities are rapidly running out of health medical supplies, and the WHO is not currently able to meet these needs."

WHO has only a few days of supplies left and is exploring all options to bring more medicines into Afghanistan.

Brennan said although that tens of thousands of "vulnerable Afghans" are being evacuated through the air operation at Kabul airport, millions will remain behind, and the WHO has continued to assist them.

The WHO official said that even before recent events, Afghanistan represented the world's third-largest humanitarian operation, with more than 18 million people in need facing conflict, displacement, and drought amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The UN is committed to staying and delivering in Afghanistan and the WHO stands together with our other UN partners in that commitment," said Brennan.

"Of course, in an insecure and volatile setting, our first priority will always remain the safety and security of our staff."

Alessandra Vellucci, director of the UN Information Service in Geneva, said that the UN has slightly more than 100 international staffers in Afghanistan and some 3,000 local workers.

The Taliban taking power in Afghanistan has led to thousands of Afghans who fear retribution and uncertainty trying to flee the country./agencies

US President Joe Biden confirmed Thursday that attacks outside Kabul airport in Afghanistan which killed at least 13 American soldiers were carried out by the ISIS-K terrorist group, the Afghan affiliate of Daesh/ISIS, and promised to respond with "force and precision."

Referring to ISIS-K, "an archenemy of the Taliban," Biden said "we will not forgive, we will not forget, we will hunt you down and make you pay.”

Delivering remarks from the East Room of the White House on the terrorist attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport, he said the US "will continue evacuations" while making plans to strike the ISIS-K terror group.

"America will not be intimidated," he underscored.

Multiple explosions shook Afghanistan's capital Thursday, including two outside the airport serving the city, killing dozens and wounding over 140, according to media reports and Anadolu Agency's correspondent on the ground.

'No collusion' between Taliban, ISIS-K

In his address to the nation, Biden asked Americans to join him in a moment of silence "for all those in uniform."

Those Americans who died were "heroes trying to save the lives of others," he said. "We're outraged as well as heartbroken."

"We have some reason to believe we know who they are, [but we’re] not certain" and will find ways of choosing to get them, he said.

Biden underlined that there was no evidence of collusion between the Taliban and ISIS-K in the latest attacks in Kabul.

The president noted that ISIS-K, "the enemy of the Taliban," was planning a complex set of attacks and that is why he was so determined to limit the scope of the operation in Afghanistan.

Turning to the Taliban, he said "no one trusts them. We're just counting on their self-interest to continue to generate their activities, and it's in their self-interest that we leave when we said and that we get as many people out as we can."

The Taliban are "not good guys," but they "have a keen interest' in trying to keep Kabul airport open, he added.

Vulnerable Afghans

On vulnerable Afghans, Biden went on to say that getting “every single person" out of Kabul "can't be guaranteed."

"I say we're going to continue to try to get you out" past Aug. 31, he said.

Biden highlighted that there are additional US citizens, Green Card and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders and Afghans "who have helped us" and others who have contacted the US side that "expressly indicated they want to get out," adding they "will try" to evacuate them "in the next several days."

He noted that the number of people evacuated from Afghanistan since Aug.14 has exceeded 100,000.

The US will respond to the Kabul attacks "with force of precision at our time, place we choose, in a moment of our choosing," he said.

Biden also emphasized that he ordered US commanders to develop operational plans "to strike ISIS-K assets, [its] leadership, facilities," adding that they could send additional forces to Afghanistan if needed.

"I bear responsibility fundamentally for all that has happened of late,” he added.

“I have never been of the view of sacrificing American lives to establish a democratic government in Afghanistan, which has never been united and composed of tribes that have never gotten along," the president said.

'Will kill terrorists wherever they are'

Following Biden, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki also joined the news conference, speaking on the latest developments after the attack in Kabul.

"We will hunt down these terrorists and kill them wherever they are," she said, referring to the ISIS-K terror group.

Psaki stressed that US military commanders continue believe that it is "vital" to leave Kabul by the Aug. 31 deadline.

She also said that some 7,000 people have been evacuated in the last 12-13 hours from Afghanistan, adding discussions with the Taliban are ongoing about how to coordinate on getting Americans and its allies out of Afghanistan after Aug. 31.

"We are in direct contact with every American citizen [in Afghanistan]," she said.

Later Thursday, in a proclamation honoring the victims of the attack in Kabul, Biden ordered the nation’s flag to be flown at half-staff at the White House, on all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, on all naval vessels and other related places "until sunset" Aug. 30.

"I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations," said the statement./aa