Biden warns of IS threat to Kabul evacuation

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is raising concerns that the Islamic State (IS) poses a threat as American troops seek to evacuate thousands of US citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan.

Biden in remarks at the White House on Sunday noted that the terror group is a “sworn enemy of the Taliban” and said that the longer US troops are on the ground increases the chance that the group will attempt to strike innocent civilians and American personnel near the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The US Embassy in Kabul has been warning Americans to avoid traveling to the airport in part because of concerns about Islamic State fighters.

The extremist group has long declared a desire to attack America and US interests abroad and it has been active in Afghanistan for a number of years, carrying out waves of horrific attacks, mostly on the Shiite minority.

The group has been repeatedly targeted by US airstrikes in recent years, and faced Taliban attacks. (AP)