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Arab News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pentagon chief orders review of US withdrawal from Afghanistan
A special review panel will 'thoroughly examine previous investigations,' Hegseth said in a memo'This team will ensure ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people'WASHINGTON: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday ordered a Pentagon review of the chaotic 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which has long been a target of Republican criticism.'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,' Hegseth wrote in a memo.A special review panel 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,' the memo said.'This team will ensure ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people and the warfighters of our great Nation,' it US withdrawal saw Taliban fighters sweep aside Afghan forces, forcing the last American troops to mount an evacuation from Kabul's airport that got more than 120,000 people out of the country in a matter of August 26, 2021, a suicide bomber targeted crowds of people on the perimeter of Kabul airport who were desperate to get on a flight out of the country, killing more than 170 people, among them 13 American Biden, who was US president during the withdrawal, defended the decision to leave Afghanistan, which critics have said helped cause the catastrophic collapse of Afghan paved the way for the Taliban to return to power two decades after their first government was toppled by American forces in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Hegseth orders Pentagon to launch comprehensive review into 'catastrophic' 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal
Print Close By Diana Stancy Published May 20, 2025 Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is instructing the Pentagon to launch a comprehensive review into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. President Joe Biden removed U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, following up on existing plans from the first Trump administration in 2020 with Taliban leaders to end the war in the region. Thirteen U.S. service members were killed during the withdrawal process due to a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate, outside of Hamid Karzai International Airport, and the Taliban quickly seized control of Kabul. "The Department of Defense has an obligation, both to the American people and to the warfighters who sacrificed their youth in Afghanistan, to get to the facts," Hegseth said in a Tuesday memo. "This remains an important step toward regaining faith and trust with the American people and all those who wear the uniform and is prudent based on the number of casualties and equipment lost during the execution of this withdrawal operation." As a result, Hegseth is directing Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell to spearhead a special review panel to evaluate previous investigations and to "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," Hegseth said in the memo. This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Print Close URL
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Hegseth orders Pentagon to launch comprehensive review into 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is instructing the Pentagon to launch a comprehensive review into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. President Joe Biden removed U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, following up on existing plans from the first Trump administration in 2020 with Taliban leaders to end the war in the region. Thirteen U.S. service members were killed during the withdrawal process due to a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate, outside of Hamid Karzai International Airport, and the Taliban quickly seized control of Kabul. "The Department of Defense has an obligation, both to the American people and to the warfighters who sacrificed their youth in Afghanistan, to get to the facts," Hegseth said in a Tuesday memo. "This remains an important step toward regaining faith and trust with the American people and all those who wear the uniform and is prudent based on the number of casualties and equipment lost during the execution of this withdrawal operation." As a result, Hegseth is directing Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell to spearhead a special review panel to evaluate previous investigations and to "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," Hegseth said in the memo. This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
