Kabul: At least 36 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed after the US military struck the terror group’s position in eastern Afghanistan with a massive GBU-43 bomb, also known as the “mother of all bombs”, the Afghan Defence Ministry said on Friday.
The US military dropped the largest non-nuclear, 10-tonne missile powered by a wave of air pressure, on an IS cave complex in Achin District, in Nangahar Province bordering Pakistan.
“The strike has destroyed an IS headquarters, three IS hideouts along with several bunkers and deep tunnels as well as huge amount of weapons and ammunition,” the Defence Ministry statement said.
No civilian was injured in the raid which took place in Mohmand Dara village, Asadkhil area of the district, the statement added.
A spokesman for the ministry said the bombing was carried out “in coordination” with Afghan military forces.
The strike was designed to minimise the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximising the destruction of IS fighters and facilities, said the US Forces-Afghanistan, which is part of NATO-led Resolute Support.
“US forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with this strike. US forces will continue offensive operations until ISIS-K (IS) is destroyed in Afghanistan,” it said.
Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani hailed the attack on the IS position.
