Article Summary –
A Pentagon review has confirmed that U.S. troops could not have prevented the August 2021 bombing at Kabul’s airport, which killed 13 American service members and up to 170 civilians. The review rejected claims from Marines who said they had identified the suspected bomber hours before the attack but were not permitted to engage him. The bombing was carried out by Abdul Rahman Al-Logari, a former engineering student who was among the thousands of militants released by the Taliban after seizing control of Kabul; Al-Logari was known to U.S. officials for a previous failed suicide bombing plot in India in 2017.
Pentagon Review Reaffirms Marines Couldn’t Prevent Kabul Airport Bombing
A recent Pentagon review reaffirms that preventing the 2021 bombing at Kabul airport that killed 13 American service members and up to 170 civilians wasn’t possible. This review, focusing on the final moments at Abbey Gate before the attack, offers new details about the Islamic State bomber and how he infiltrated the crowds trying to evacuate Kabul’s airport.
The review refutes the accusation that the Marines could identify the bomber, known as “Bald Man in Black,” but were twice denied permission to shoot him. This narrative has stirred controversy, contributing to wider criticisms of the Biden administration’s troop withdrawal and evacuation from Kabul.
Review Disputes Initial Reports, Confirms Single Bomber
The bombing was a profound experience for the military following 20 years of war in Afghanistan. Military officials stood by initial conclusions that a single Islamic State bomber executed the attack. With mounting political pressure to address discrepancies between the initial review and Marines’ accounts, Army and Marine Corps officers interviewed over 50 additional witnesses.
One main issue was the bomber’s identity. The Islamic State identified him as Abdul Rahman Al-Logari, corroborated by Western intelligence analysts. Al-Logari, a former engineering student and member of ISIS Khorasan or ISIS-K, had been freed from prison after the Taliban seized control of Kabul.
Marines’ Claims Rejected
Known to the Americans, Al-Logari plotted a suicide bombing in New Delhi in 2017, which was foiled by Indian authorities following intelligence from the CIA. At Kabul airport, investigators said, Al-Logari detonated a 20-pound explosive, captured in video footage shown to Pentagon reporters.
Marines claimed they spotted an individual matching the bomber’s description hours before the attack. However, the review concludes that the Marines’ reports confused the bomber’s identity with an earlier sighting of a different man. A photo of the suspect didn’t match photos of Al-Logari, even with facial recognition software.
Initial Reports Contradicted
The review team also dismissed sightings of individuals suspected of carrying out a dry run of the attack. Ultimately, the review concludes that the Marines were mistaken. The bombing’s traumatic nature may explain why Marines’ recollections didn’t coincide with subsequent inquiries.
The original Army-led investigation contradicted senior U.S. commanders’ initial reports that militants fired into the crowd, causing casualties. Initial reports from Defense Department officials that Islamic State Khorasan fighters began firing weapons were also found to be untrue.
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