The US claims it has wiped out a vehicle carrying several would-be suicide bombers heading for an attack at Kabul's airport.
The Afghan capital was rocked by a huge blast, with officials claiming there was a “significant secondary explosions” - suggesting there a lot of explosives on the vehicle.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strike targeted suspected ISIS-K militants.
A Pentagon source told CNN: “We are confident we successfully hit the target.”
A Taliban spokesman said it was a US 'military strike' targeting a suicide bomber in a car, the broadcaster reports.
The militant was intent on attacking Kabul airport, the Taliban said.
Shortly after the rocket attack, US Government sources confirmed it had carried out a strike on suspected IS-K fighters in Kabul, according to Reuters.
Navy Captain Bill Urban, of US CENTCOM, said: “US military forces conducted a self-defence unmanned over-the-horizon airstrike on a vehicle in Kabul, eliminating an imminent IS-K threat to Hamad Karzai International airport.
“We are confident we successfully hit the target. Significant secondary explosions from the vehicle indicated the presence of a substantial amount of explosive material.
“We are assessing the possibilities of civilian casualties, though we have no indications at this time.
“We remain vigilant for potential future threats.”
Separately, a Taliban spokesman said a “rocket” had struck a home in Kabul’s Khuwja Bughra neighbourhood on the outskirts of Kabul’s international airport.
One child was reportedly killed in that blast.
Footage shared by freelance journalist Shafi Karimi on Twitter shows black smoke rising from a house.
A Health Ministry source told the BBC a rocket hit the property.
Residents reported hearing a 'large explosion', however the cause of the blast has not yet been officially confirmed.
It comes after US President Joe Biden warned that another attack on Kabul airport within the next 24 hours was highly likely as US forces prepared to leave Afghanistan.
The UK carried out its final flight from the Kabul overnight, bringing an end to Britain's 20-year war.
The rescue mission to evacuate UK nationals and others eligible to return to British shores saw up to 150 Britons, as well as more than 1,000 Afghans, left to face uncertain futures under Taliban rule.
The US and Taliban agreed a Tuesday withdrawal deadline.
The religious-political group - regarded by many world powers to be terrorists - took control of Afghanistan two weeks ago after America announced its intention to pull troops after 20 years.
While Western forces were withdrawing from Kabul, IS-K attacked the airport, killing more than 170 Afghans and 13 US soldiers.
A diehard team of SAS fighters volunteered to stay behind in Afghanistan to avenge the deaths of 13 US troops murdered at Kabul airport.
Sources say up to 40 members of the Who Dares Wins regiment have asked to remain in the war-torn nation so they can take the fight to IS-K – the terrorist group behind Thursday’s suicide bombing and gun attack.
