“I have concluded that we need to conduct a comprehensive review to ensure that accountability for this event is met and that the complete picture is provided to the American people.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced that the Department of Defense is launching a full investigation into the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan that led to the deaths of 13 US soldiers under former President Joe Biden.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Hegseth announced, "On August 26, 2021, President Biden's administration led a chaotic withdrawal of US military and embassy officials from Afghanistan that led to the deaths of 13 US Service members and 170 civilians in a suicide bombing at the Kabul International Airport's Abbey Gate. President Trump and I have formally pledged full transparency for what transpired during our military withdrawal from Afghanistan."
Hegseth went onto say, "Over the last three months, the Department has been engaged in a review of this catastrophic event in our military's history. I have concluded that we need to conduct a comprehensive review to ensure that accountability for this event is met and that the complete picture is provided to the American people. To meet this imperative, I am directing the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (ATSD-PA) and Senior Advisor, Sean Parnell to convene a Special Review Panel (SP) for the Department who will thoroughly examine previous investigations, to include but not limited to, findings of fact, sources, witnesses, and analyze the decision making that led to one of America's darkest and deadliest international moments. This team will ensure ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people and the warfighters of our great Nation."
The botched August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan saw the deaths of 13 soldiers as well as injured several others along with the deaths of the over 100 Afghans at Kabul Airport.
Recently, the Trump administration was able to capture and detain the terrorist allegedly behind the Abbey Gate bombing, taking Mohammad Sharifullah into custody in March. The Gold Star families met with the president's team before the announcement at the time, with Cheryl Jules, the aunt of slain Sgt. Nicole Gee, telling The Post Millennial, "We were all in tears. You know, we couldn't be more thankful for the President."
Goldstar family members to the 13 soldiers have previously told TPM that the Biden administration had very little contact with them aside from the dignified transfer, at which Biden checked his watch multiple times, and have said they attempted to reach out to then-President Biden to be involved in any efforts to investigate the bombing.
An investigation into the bombing by the Biden administration was slammed by the House GOP earlier last year, after release of video contradicted the military's investigation into the attack with respect to gunfire taking place at the time.
The 13 deceased service members from the Afghanistan withdrawal can be see below:
Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo
Cpl. Daegan W. Page
Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza
Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz
Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola
Lance Cpl. Kareem Mae'Lee Grant Nikoui
Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak
Cpl. Humberto "Bert" Sanchez
Cpl. Hunter Lopez
Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum
Sgt. Nicole L. Gee.
Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover
Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss
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