Pentagon to release Afghanistan review findings later this summer

The U.S. Department of War said on Friday it will release the findings of a major internal review of the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan later this summer, in what officials describe as one of the most comprehensive assessments ever conducted on a single military operation.

Speaking to reporters, U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the review examines decisions leading up to and including the evacuation at Kabul airport, particularly the deadly attack at Abbey Gate during the final days of the withdrawal.

Hegseth said the department is conducting a full internal accounting of the events, noting that previous investigations and congressional reviews did not provide a complete or detailed picture of what took place.

He described the withdrawal as a “disastrous” moment with long-term implications, saying its impact was felt beyond Afghanistan and influenced perceptions of U.S. deterrence worldwide.

On Aug. 26, 2021, as U.S. forces were withdrawing from Afghanistan, a suicide attack at the Abbey Gate entrance to Kabul’s airport killed 13 Americans.

The bombing has remained a central focus of criticism and political debate in the United States.