The US military has reportedly intercepted some rockets that were fired towards Kabul’s Airport early on Monday, local broadcaster ToloNews said, citing witnesses.
Some rockets were said to have been fired from Chairchanah, in Kabul’s north, according to the report.
CNN reported that, at least, five missiles were fired towards the airport, citing US Government officials.
There was no initial information on potential casualties or damage.
The airport’s aerial defence system was activated, triggering a machine gun that destroys approaching objects before they strike.
It was said to have been tested only a few weeks ago. Videos shared on social media showed a burning car, apparently hit by one of the rockets. The car’s carcass was covered with debris as its tyres had melted.
It was not possible to verify whether the missiles had been fired from the vehicle. CNN reported that an imminent threat to the Afghan capital’s airport had been removed.
US President Joe Biden was notified of the attack, according to White House spokesperson, Jen Psaki. He was also informed that operations at the airport would continue without interruption.
Commanders at the airport are to increase their efforts to protect troops, according to Biden. The president had warned, on Sunday, of possible attacks around Kabul airport as Washington prepared to pull out its final troops.
The US military carried out an airstrike on a car, on Sunday. Doing so averted an imminent threat to the airport from the terrorist group known as Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K.
“Significant secondary explosions’’ after the strike indicated the vehicle contained a large quantity of explosives, US officials said.
The situation in Kabul remained volatile after ISIS-K claimed responsibility for Thursday’s airport bombing that killed dozens of people, including 13 US soldiers.
The total number of deaths was not clear. Broadcaster CNN said there were up to 200. It added that Washington had completed its evacuation mission, with US troops still planning to depart from Kabul by Tuesday.
Some 114,000 people hasbeen airlifted from Afghanistan since mid-August, according to the White House.
