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Pentagon Orders New Investigation Into 2021 Afghanistan Withdrawal

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has tasked veteran Sean Parnell with leading a review to reexamine the chaotic exit under President Biden and its deadly consequences.

US-Verteidigungsminister Pete Hegseth lässt den Afghanistan-Abzug unter dem früheren Präsidenten Joe Biden vor rund dreieinhalb Jahren neu untersuchen. Er habe eine umfassende Überprüfung angeordnet, erklärte der Pentagon-Chef.

Overview

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has commissioned a comprehensive review of the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it a 'catastrophic and embarrassing' operation.
  • The probe will be led by Sean Parnell, an Afghanistan veteran, and will revisit prior investigations conducted by the military, State Department, and Congress.
  • The Kabul airport suicide bombing during the withdrawal killed 13 US service members and 170 civilians, a tragedy Hegseth cites as central to the inquiry.
  • Hegseth's review aims to provide accountability and a complete picture of decision-making under President Biden, while earlier reviews also noted constraints inherited from the Trump administration.
  • The investigation follows the March 2025 announcement of the capture of an IS-K suspect, believed to be involved in the Kabul airport attack, with assistance from Pakistan.