Hegseth Anticipates Full Review of Kabul Airport Attack Circumstances by Mid-2026

August 26, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he anticipates that a Defense Department special review panel looking into the circumstances surrounding the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, should be ready to present its findings by sometime in mid-2026.

A heavily fenced-off compound with a handful of small buildings during the daytime.

The attack, carried out by a bomber affiliated with ISIS-Khorasan and wearing an improvised explosive device, killed 13 U.S. service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians at Hamid Karzai International Airport’s Abbey Gate.

Hegseth spoke of the investigation yesterday in the White House’s Oval Office, shortly after President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation commemorating the fourth anniversary of the attack while surrounded by Gold Star family members of the victims.

“On behalf of this beautiful group, on behalf of these families [and] on behalf of your loved ones who fought for our nation, America deserves answers as far as what happened in Afghanistan; the military needs to answer for what happened in Afghanistan,” Hegseth told the group.

The secretary went on to say that Chief Pentagon Spokesman and Senior Advisor Sean Parnell — himself a veteran of the war in Afghanistan — is leading the Trump and Hegseth-ordered special review panel and that the review is taking place “on behalf of the American people.”

“The special review panel at the department continues its vital work to investigate the botched withdrawal, ensuring that the pursuit of accountability and transparency does not waver,” reads a DOD statement released today on honoring fallen heroes during the fourth anniversary of the attack.

“While the review is ongoing, the effort to uncover the full truth behind the decisions made during this period has not stopped and will not stop until every aspect is examined and those responsible are held to account,” the statement continues.

Over a dozen service members in camouflage and hundreds of evacuees are on one side of a chain-link fence while a handful of other camouflaged service members patrol on the opposite side of the fence.

The work of the current special review panel follows a multi-month supplemental review of the original Abbey Gate investigation that began almost two years ago.

Ordered by U.S. Central Command in September 2023, the supplemental review reaffirmed the military’s finding of the initial investigation that the Abbey Gate attack could not have been preventable at the tactical level.

“Justice for the families of the 13 fallen service members is an essential priority,” Hegseth said via the aforementioned DOD statement, adding that the victims’ sacrifice is “the driving force” behind the special review panel.

“We owe it to them, to the American people, and to all who wear the uniform to comb through every detail of what happened, delivering full accountability and restoring trust,” he concluded.

Hegseth Anticipates Full Review of Kabul Airport Attack Circumstances by Mid-2026
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U.S. Veterans Demand Accountability on Kabul Abbey Gate Attack Anniversary

On the fourth anniversary of the Kabul Abbey Gate attack, U.S. veterans urged government accountability, honoring 13 fallen soldiers and 170 Afghan civilians killed during America’s chaotic withdrawal.

On the fourth anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the deadly Abbey Gate suicide bombing, American veterans are renewing calls for accountability and justice.

The attack at Kabul airport on August 26, 2021, claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghan civilians, marking one of the darkest days of the withdrawal.

Veterans argue that the tragedy was the result of poor planning and failures in leadership. They say the chaotic withdrawal left troops exposed and civilians vulnerable.

Dennis Price, founder of Heroes for Humanity, said the wounds of that day remain unhealed. “It was the soldiers and veterans who stepped in to save civilians, while leadership failed,” he remarked.

The veterans have welcomed a new review launched by the U.S. Department of Defense, but insist that real accountability requires more than bureaucratic investigations. They stress that justice for the families of the fallen must be honored as part of America’s “national duty.”

Many veterans view Abbey Gate not only as a symbol of sacrifice but also as a reminder of America’s responsibility to its allies who were left behind.

U.S. Veterans Demand Accountability on Kabul Abbey Gate Attack Anniversary
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Afghanistan Urges Global Support to Tackle Climate Change

NEPA officials also called on the international community to support Afghanistan in tackling climate challenges.

The head of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) says Afghanistan has a very small role in producing greenhouse gases but has suffered heavily from the global phenomenon of climate change.

Speaking at a scientific seminar titled “Environment and Sustainable Development”, Matiul Haq Khalis said the aim of the gathering was to raise public awareness and strengthen coordination in addressing the impacts of climate change.

Khalis noted: “No single institution can develop policies for all areas at the national or global level. Our focus here has been to increase public awareness programs.”

NEPA officials also called on the international community to support Afghanistan in tackling climate challenges.

Some organizers of the seminar highlighted the role of educational institutions in raising awareness about climate change, warning that the phenomenon could negatively affect Afghanistan’s foreign relations, particularly with neighboring countries.

Organizer Abdul Basir Nabizada said: “Afghanistan’s environment has been severely damaged by decades of war, and there is a pressing need for comprehensive research and educational policies.”

University professor Ramazan Ali said: “Climate change has reduced water resources, and this shortage has created challenges for Afghanistan’s policies with its neighbors.”

Participant Abdul Khaliq said: “This seminar may provide important guidelines that we can implement in our lives with the cooperation of government and institutions.”

Afghanistan is among the countries with the least contribution to greenhouse gas emissions but remains one of the most affected by climate change.

Over the past two decades, repeated droughts, declining groundwater levels, sudden floods, and soil erosion have severely impacted the lives of millions of Afghans.

Afghanistan Urges Global Support to Tackle Climate Change
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Concern Over Women’s Neglect in Islamic Emirate 5-Year Plan

They emphasized that women make up half of society and that every national program must consider their needs and participation.

After the five-year development strategy for Afghanistan was finalized by the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, a number of female students in Kabul said that the program did not significantly mention the role and presence of women, an issue that has heightened their concerns about their educational and professional futures.

They emphasized that women make up half of society and that every national program must consider their needs and participation.

Suhaila, a university student, said: “My request to the Islamic Emirate is to take such matters into account and to grant women the right to education and work.”

Najla, a school student, said: “Afghan women must be given a share in work and activities, because women also have a role.”

This strategy, which outlines the interim government’s priorities in 15 sections, has been developed in accordance with Islamic law, scientific standards, and the country’s internal conditions.

However, the Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on the budget or financial funding of the five-year strategy.

Abdul Nasir Reshtia, an economic affairs expert, stated: “The world should help Afghanistan economically so the government can initiate and implement its strategic and development plans. Of course, if the government can create a suitable environment for domestic and foreign investment, and make efforts to properly collect national revenues, the plan can certainly be implemented.”

The five-year development strategy was finalized and made public yesterday by the leadership of the Islamic Emirate.

The deputy prime minister for economic affairs also asked all ministries and government agencies to align and implement their policies, programs, and projects within the framework of this five-year strategy to ensure greater coordination, effective prioritization, and optimal management of national resources.

Concern Over Women’s Neglect in Islamic Emirate 5-Year Plan
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9/11 Victims’ Relatives Lose Legal Battle Over Afghan Reserves

This amount represents half of the $7 billion in Afghan foreign reserves frozen at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York after the fall of the previous government and the rise of the Islamic Emirate in August 2021.

In February 2022, former U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order allocating half of the assets to aid the Afghan people, while leaving the other half open to legal proceedings. However, with this new court decision, the victims will also be unable to access the second half of the funds.

Mir Shakib Mir, an economic analyst, stated: “The reserves held in the U.S. Federal Reserve belong to the people of Afghanistan and the Afghan central bank. These funds were largely accumulated by the Central Bank during the republic era and were either entrusted or invested in the U.S. The Afghan people, the central bank, and these reserves have no connection to the perpetrators of the September 11 attacks.”

According to Reuters, the ruling marks a setback for some victims who had previously sought to claim a portion of the Afghan assets through legal action against groups like al-Qaeda.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that the 9/11 victims have no connection to the Afghan people’s assets, which rightfully belong to them.

Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, said: “The 9/11 victims have no relation to the Afghan people’s assets. These frozen funds are the rightful and logical property of the Afghan people and must be released as soon as possible and handed over to the Central Bank.”

Abdul Zuhor Mudaber, another economic expert, added: “The freezing of Afghan funds by the U.S. is an economic crisis. Any step that leads to the release of these funds would benefit the Afghan people and be a valuable move.”

Despite ongoing political and legal pressure, the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly called on the U.S. to unfreeze the assets and allow the central bank to access them, yet the request remains unanswered.

9/11 Victims’ Relatives Lose Legal Battle Over Afghan Reserves
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Trump honors fallen US service members and criticizes Biden to mark Afghanistan bombing anniversary

By WILL WEISSERT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday marked the fourth anniversary of the suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members during the chaotic withdrawal at the end of the Afghanistan War by signing a proclamation honoring the fallen.

Surrounded by about 35 family members of those killed, including one wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap, Trump used the somber occasion to decry his predecessor, Democratic President Joe Biden, for allowing the attack to happen.

Tuesday is the anniversary of the bombing that also killed more than 100 Afghans at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul airport on Aug. 26, 2021. Trump called it “one of the dumbest days in the history of our country by the previous administration.”

“That was a terrible day,” Trump said. “And I think it was the worst day, and in many ways the most embarrassing day, in the history of our country.”

Biden’s White House was following a withdrawal commitment and timeline that the Trump administration had negotiated with the Taliban in 2020. A 2022 review by a government-appointed special investigator concluded decisions made by both Trump and Biden were the key factors leading to the rapid collapse of Afghanistan’s military and the Taliban takeover.

Trump made the suicide bombing and Biden’s handling of it a frequent topic as he campaigned for president. The relatives of some of the U.S. service members killed also appeared on stage at the Republican National Convention in July 2024.

On the third anniversary of the attack, Trump was invited by family members of some suicide bombing victims to Arlington National Cemetery’s Section 60, a hallowed section where U.S. forces killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are buried.

That became a flashpoint after a staffer from Trump’s campaign reportedly shoved a cemetery employee who was trying to prevent the photographing of a ceremony honoring the service members killed in the Afghanistan War withdrawal. Federal law prohibits campaign or election-related activities within Army national military cemeteries.

In a statement marking the third anniversary of the attack, Biden called the 13 Americans who died “patriots in the highest sense” who “embodied the very best of who we are as a nation: brave, committed, selfless.”

“Ever since I became Vice President, I carried a card with me every day that listed the exact number of American service members who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan — including Taylor, Johanny, Nicole, Hunter, Daegan, Humberto, David, Jared, Rylee, Dylan, Kareem, Maxton, and Ryan,” Biden said in a statement in August 2024.

Also on hand for Monday’s proclamation signing were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, who told victims’ relatives that Trump’s action was “a rectification of a wrong” because Biden “lost your loved ones through incompetence” and his government “never actually put pen to paper to say we’re grateful for your sacrifice.”

Trump has ordered a new Defense Department review of what occurred during the withdrawal of U.S. forces, and Hegseth said he expected that to be complete by the middle of next year.

“The military needs to answer for what happened in Afghanistan,” Hegseth said.

Trump honors fallen US service members and criticizes Biden to mark Afghanistan bombing anniversary
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Afghan Migrants Face Uncertainty Amid Forced Deportations

Afghan migrants say the forced deportations have left families facing fear, uncertainty, and a livelihood crisis.

Amid the continued forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan, concerns have grown among migrant families.

Afghan migrants say the forced deportations have left families facing fear, uncertainty, and a livelihood crisis.

Atiqullah Mansoor, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan, told TOLOnews: “The fear of arrest and forced deportation remains among migrants as the next month approaches. Afghan migrants request the Pakistani government to extend their cards for at least one year so they can resolve their affairs more easily.”

Shabana, another Afghan migrant in Pakistan, spoke about the hardships of life there: “The biggest problem Afghan migrants face in Pakistan is how to gather their belongings and assets in such a short time and return to Afghanistan. My request to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is to use all available resources to support Afghan migrants.”

Some other Afghan migrants in Islamabad, who have immigration cases, criticized the United Nations and refugee support agencies for neglect.

Nargis, an Afghan migrant residing in Pakistan, said: “Our request to the U.S. government is to resume and expedite the processing of our cases and provide educational opportunities for us and our children.”

Nazar Nazari, a migrant rights activist, said: “It is essential that refugee support organizations demand an immediate halt to deportations from host countries and facilitate tripartite dialogues between Afghanistan, host countries, and international institutions.”

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has announced that between August 1 and 15 of this year, over 106,000 Afghans have been returned from Iran and Pakistan, with 83.7% from Iran and 16.3% from Pakistan.

Afghan Migrants Face Uncertainty Amid Forced Deportations
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Islamic Emirate Releases a 5-Year Development Strategy for Afghanistan

This strategy has been formulated in 15 sectors, based on Sharia rulings, scientific standards, and reliance on domestic capacities.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, stated Afghanistan’s development strategy has been finalized by the leader of the Islamic Emirate and will now enter the implementation phase.

According to him, this strategy has been formulated in 15 sectors, based on Sharia rulings, scientific standards, the country’s actual conditions, and reliance on domestic capacities.

The 15 main pillars of Afghanistan’s development strategy are as follows:

Rule of Sharia law and ensuring Islamic justice

Good governance and management of international relations

Reform of the public sector, ensuring transparency and accountability

Strengthening and expanding regional and international relations

Strengthening security, public order, and border protection

Law enforcement, combating crime, and strengthening local governance

Urban development and rural progress

Economic and social development

Effective and sustainable use of natural resources and provision of energy

Growth of agriculture and livestock

Improving financial management and expanding electricity payments

Improving health services and ensuring food security

Development of education, human resources, and culture

Growth of telecommunications and information technology

Development of transport and transit infrastructure

The office of the deputy prime minister for economic affairs has asked all ministries and government agencies to align and implement their policies, programs, and projects within the framework of this five-year strategy in order to ensure greater coordination, effective prioritization, and optimal management of national resources.

Regarding the usefulness of this strategy, Abdul Zahoor Mudaber, an economic expert, said: “A strategic program and plan generally define a vision and outlook, under which several key components find their place, including political stability, security stability, and regional economic connectivity.”

According to Islamic Emirate officials, governance based on Islamic rulings, ensuring nationwide security, safeguarding territorial integrity, creating job opportunities, and economic growth are considered the key objectives of this national strategy.

Islamic Emirate Releases a 5-Year Development Strategy for Afghanistan
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Trump Calls Afghanistan Withdrawal ‘Most Embarrassing Day in U.S. History’

Trump stressed that American forces should have been stationed at Bagram Air Base instead of Kabul airport.

Four years after the deadly attack at Kabul airport, questions and criticism over how the United States withdrew from Afghanistan remain unresolved inside the country.

Donald Trump, strongly criticizing former U.S. Former President Joe Biden, described the withdrawal from Afghanistan as “the most embarrassing day in the history” of the U.S.

Trump stressed that American forces should have been stationed at Bagram Air Base instead of Kabul airport.

He said: “They were in the wrong place. Bagram was the place to be, a  big, massive airfield with hundreds of acres surrounding it. Nobody can get near it. And who would not have done that? But we had a bunch of incompetent people running our country.”

The former president also emphasized that he intended to keep Bagram Air Base.

Trump once again claimed that China has taken over the base.

He added: “We would have kept Bagram, which is the air base, one of the largest runways in the world, one of the most powerful. You can land anything on it, many, many feet thick. You don’t build them that way anymore. You can’t. But we left it and now China is occupying that air base. This was the most incompetent administration in history. The Biden administration.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of Defense also emphasized that reviews regarding the withdrawal are underway.

Pete Hegseth said these reviews will be completed by mid-2026.

The U.S. Defense Secretary stated: “Sean Parnell, an Afghanistan vet is leading it and we’re doing it on behalf of the American people. So I would anticipate, middle of 2026. That’s how thorough of you were doing hopefully a little bit sooner, but we’re going to everything in understanding what happened.”

On August 26, 2021, during the final days of America’s presence in Afghanistan, an explosion occurred at the gate of Kabul International Airport, killing more than 100 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. soldiers.

Trump Calls Afghanistan Withdrawal ‘Most Embarrassing Day in U.S. History’
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Germany to resume entry of vulnerable Afghans after legal, diplomatic pressure

By

  • Some 2,000 Afghans stranded in Pakistan after Germany paused scheme to admit them
  • Pakistan aims to expel Afghan refugees by September 1 deadline
  • Government had faced several lawsuits challenging freeze on admissions
BERLIN, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Germany is set to lift its months-long ban on the entry of vulnerable Afghan nationals it had pledged to admit, a foreign ministry official said on Tuesday, after mounting legal pressure at home and a deportation push by Pakistan.
Around 2,000 Afghans approved for relocation to Germany under a programme for those deemed at risk under Taliban rule have been stranded in neighbouring Pakistan for months, after Berlin froze the scheme amid a pledge to curb migration.
The decision comes following several lawsuits by groups and dozens of affected Afghans challenging the freeze.
The interior ministry, which had put the programme on hold in the first place and was blocking its resumption, said Afghan nationals who were promised admission under earlier programs were undergoing individual case reviews.
“Afghans for whom the Federal Republic of Germany has been legally obliged by binding court decisions to issue visas and allow entry will gradually be admitted to Germany,” a ministry official said.
Only Afghans with binding admission approvals will be allowed in after security checks, the official said, noting that numbers were unclear and exit permits from Pakistan would still be required.
Matthias Lehnert, a lawyer representing Afghans who had challenged the suspension, told Reuters he had informed the affected families of the news and that they were “overjoyed”.
“These are all proceedings that were enforced through the courts. In that sense, the federal government is doing the absolute minimum,” Lehnert added.

URGENCY

The sense of urgency has increased as Pakistan moves to expel Afghan refugees ahead of a September 1 deadline, including those in Germany’s relocation programme.
Lehnert, who won four cases against the government, said the courts had ruled in principle that people could rely on Berlin’s admission commitments and were at serious risk of deportation to Afghanistan if not flown to Germany.
“That’s why it’s really scandalous that the government isn’t acting in all the other cases and continues to drag things out.”
Families with court rulings will be flying out of Pakistan soon but the details have not yet been disclosed, said Eva Beyer, media and advocacy officer for aid organisation Kabul Luftbruecke (Kabul Air Bridge).
“Some of them have been waiting for many, many months, some even for years, to be able to leave (Pakistan),” she told Reuters, adding that the Afghans would be flown to Germany on regular commercial airlines, not charter flights.

Reporting by Riham Alkousaa Editing by Miranda Murray and Gareth Jones

Germany to resume entry of vulnerable Afghans after legal, diplomatic pressure
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