Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via Getty Images
- Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said ISIS-K is shooting at US military jets in Kabul without any effect.
- But he warned that non-military jets helping evacuate people don't have such defense systems.
- ISIS-K took responsibility for the Thursday blasts that killed at least 95 Afghans and 13 US troops.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
The Afghan affiliate of ISIS is shooting at US military jets at Kabul airport with no effect, but other planes are vulnerable, a top US general warned.
Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of US Central Command, said on Thursday that he believes ISIS-K wants to attack planes coming in and out of Kabul airport, where foreign citizens, foreign troops and Afghan refugees are being evacuated after the Taliban takeover.
"We know that ISIS would like to get after those aircraft if they can," he said, adding that he does not believe the terror group currently has the ability to take down the aircraft.
"They have taken shots at our aircraft on occasion without effect. We think that's going to continue. And we will, but as you know military aircraft have a variety of self-defense systems."
"Which [are] more vulnerable actually are the charter aircraft and other aircraft that are coming in that do not have those do not have those systems," he said.
McKenzie said the US was monitoring threats to its planes closely "because really, the aircraft's the only way we're going to get people out of there. So we are keenly sensitive to threats to our aircraft."
His comments came after two explosions by Kabul's airport on Thursday, which have killed at least 95 Afghans and 13 US troops.
ISIS-K has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Pentagon and President Joe Biden have blamed the group for the attacks, with Biden vowing revenge.
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