Abbey Gate Attack; WH Calls Afghanistan Withdrawal One of US Worst Military Defeats

DID Press: On the fifth anniversary of the deadly Abbey Gate attack at Kabul airport, the White House and the U.S. Department of War honored the 13 American service members killed in the attack.

The White House described the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan as one of the worst military defeats in US history and criticized former President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw forces from Bagram Air Base.

The Abbey Gate bombing killed 13 U.S. service members and wounded 45 others, while more than 160 Afghan civilians were killed. Pentagon put the number of Afghan civilians killed at 170.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth presented medals to three U.S. Marines for their actions following the blast, describing their response as an example of “fearless heroism on the battlefield.”

An investigation into the attack concluded that the bombing could not have been prevented and that commanders at the scene had taken the necessary measures in accordance with established procedures.