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ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attack on Kabul Airport

Jan 27, 2026 January 27, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

ISIS has claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Kabul Airport during the visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The attack occurred shortly after their arrival, with reports of multiple missile strikes but no confirmed casualties yet. This incident highlights ongoing security challenges in Afghanistan amidst U.S. military engagements.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The missile attack on Kabul Airport during high-level diplomatic visits underscores the ongoing security challenges in Afghanistan.

👥 Key Players

ISIS MENTIONED
Terrorist organization
"ISIS poses a significant threat to regional stability and has been involved in various attacks in Afghanistan, challenging both U.S. and Afghan government efforts."
James Mattis MENTIONED
U.S. Secretary of Defense
"As a key figure in U.S. military strategy, his presence in Afghanistan highlights ongoing U.S. involvement and commitment to combating terrorism."
Jens Stoltenberg MENTIONED
NATO Secretary General
"Leads NATO's military alliance, which plays a crucial role in international security operations in Afghanistan."
Ashraf Ghani MENTIONED
President of Afghanistan
"The leader of Afghanistan, whose government is directly affected by security incidents and international relations."

📰 What Happened

ISIS claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Kabul Airport during the visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The attack involved multiple missile strikes, but no casualties have been confirmed yet.

  • At least six missiles struck the military section of Kabul International Airport.
  • The attack occurred shortly after the arrival of high-ranking U.S. and NATO officials.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The attack underscores the instability in Afghanistan, which could have spillover effects in Iran, particularly in border regions.
🌍 Regional: It highlights the ongoing security challenges in Afghanistan, potentially affecting regional security dynamics and the fight against terrorism.
🌐 International: The attack raises concerns about the effectiveness of U.S. and NATO strategies in Afghanistan and the persistent threat posed by ISIS.

📚 Background

Afghanistan has faced ongoing violence and instability since the U.S. invasion in 2001, with various militant groups, including the Taliban and ISIS, vying for power.

U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan ISIS operations in South Asia
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
Reuters is generally considered a reliable news source, providing objective reporting on global events.

The Islamic State group, ISIS, has claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Kabul Airport. This attack coincided with the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State and the NATO Secretary General to the city. According to Reuters on Wednesday, October 5, ISIS asserted that several explosions occurred inside and outside Kabul Airport, carried out by the group. These explosions took place just hours after the arrival of James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. No reports have yet been published on the extent of casualties and damages caused by these missiles; however, according to this report, the U.S. Secretary of Defense was not near the incident site at the time of the attack. The German news agency also reported that at least six missiles struck the military section of Kabul International Airport. Meanwhile, in the same report, it was noted that in addition to James Mattis, Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, also arrived in the city for a visit. Shortly after this incident, Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Interior, announced that flights from this airport had returned to normal and stated that no reports of casualties from the missile strikes had been received yet. However, as reported by the German news agency, citing an official at Kabul International Airport who wished to remain anonymous, the impact of several missiles on the airport has been confirmed, but he refrained from disclosing the exact number. This official also reported delays in flights from this airport due to the incident. Various media outlets have reported that a larger number of missiles struck Kabul Airport. Ahmad Mokhtar, a journalist, told CBC that he was able to count at least 20 missile impacts. Mokhtar also tweeted about helicopters flying towards the incident site. Local Afghan media also report that between 20 to 30 missiles hit Kabul International Airport. James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, traveled to Kabul to meet with Ashraf Ghani, the President of Afghanistan, military commanders, American soldiers, and international forces stationed in the country. It is likely that they will discuss the new U.S.-Afghanistan strategy announced by Donald Trump, the President of the United States, in August. Mattis had recently announced the deployment of three thousand U.S. soldiers to Afghanistan to combat the Taliban.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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