Hegseth orders new review of Afghanistan withdrawal [View all]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered another review of the military’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed American troops and Afghans.

President Trump and Hegseth have repeatedly criticized the Biden administration over the withdrawal. Hegseth said Tuesday that it was “disastrous and embarrassing” and the new review will interview witnesses, analyze decision-making and “get the truth.”

There have already been multiple reviews by the Pentagon, U.S. Central Command, the State Department and Congress, involving hundreds of interviews and studies of videos, photographs and other data. It’s unclear what specific new information the review is seeking.

The Abbey Gate bombing during the final days of the Afghanistan withdrawal killed 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghans and wounded scores more. It triggered widespread debate and congressional criticism.

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