Category: Kabul

US Won’t Discipline Troops Over Airstrike That Killed Afghan Civilians: Pentagon

U.S. military personnel involved in the August drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed 10 civilians will not be disciplined, defense officials said on Monday. John Kirby, chief Pentagon spokesman, said on Monday that based on the findings of an independent probe released last month, no recommendations were made for discipline. The review was endorsed…


US ‘Deeply Concerned’ Over Reports Taliban ‘Disappearing’ Ex-Afghan Officials

The chief U.S. envoy to the Taliban on Wednesday expressed concern over emerging reports that the Taliban terrorist group has summarily killed or forcibly “disappeared” more than 100 former police and intelligence officers since seizing control of Kabul in August. Thomas West, who formerly served as the deputy special representative, said on Twitter that the…


ISIS Affiliate Now Appears Present in All Afghan Provinces: UN Envoy

An affiliate of the ISIS terrorist group is now present in nearly all 34 provinces in Afghanistan, the United Nations envoy to the country said on Wednesday. Addressing the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Deborah Lyons said ISIS-K, also known as ISKP, has expanded dramatically in the country since Kabul was seized by the Taliban…


Pentagon Says No Crime Committed in Airstrike That Killed Afghan Civilians

An investigation into a United States’ airstrike that killed 10 Afghan civilians has found that no war crime was committed in carrying out the attack, a top military official said Nov. 3. The probe into the Aug. 29 airstrike near the Kabul International Airport was directed by the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austen, and carried…


Many Feared Dead, Wounded as Explosions, Gunfire Hit Military Hospital in Afghanistan

An explosion that was immediately followed by a deadly assault at a large military hospital in the capital of Afghanistan killed more than a dozen people on Tuesday, according to reports. Hibatullah Jamal, a Taliban member who serves as the group’s minister of defense, said that “there are casualties among both our personnel and civilians,”…


US Envoy to Afghanistan Resigns Less Than 2 Months After Withdrawal

The chief U.S. envoy to the Taliban is stepping down from his role, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday. U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad tendered his resignation on Monday in a letter sent to Blinken. He will be replaced by Thomas West, who previously served as the deputy special representative. “As Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay…


Air Force Says Commercial Evacuation Flight From Kabul Was Nearly Hijacked

The United States Air Force (USAF) on Tuesday said that a commercial flight from Kabul’s international airport was nearly hijacked during evacuation efforts that followed the Taliban takeover. Lt. Col. Kristen Duncan, a public affairs officer for the 23rd Wing, wrote in a statement on the Air Force’s website that several people aboard a commercial…


Marine Officer Who Criticized US Military Officials Over Afghanistan Withdrawal to Plead Guilty as Part of Plea Deal

A Marine Officer who faces trial by court-martial on Oct. 14 for criticizing senior military officials over the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is set to plead guilty to several charges, his lawyers said. Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller has been charged with contempt toward officials, disrespect toward superior commissioned officers, willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer, dereliction in the…


US Says Aid Will Go Directly to Afghan People

The United States during talks with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar over the weekend agreed to provide humanitarian aid directly to the Afghan people, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. Price said an inter-agency delegation traveled to Doha to meet with senior Taliban representatives on Oct. 9 and 10, marking the first…


ISIS Terrorist Responsible for Kabul Airport Bombing Was Prisoner Released by Taliban: Congressman

The ISIS-K terrorist who carried out a suicide bomb attack in August outside of Kabul’s airport in Afghanistan had reportedly been released from prison just days before the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, according to a top U.S. official. “U.S. national security officials have now confirmed to me the reports that the Aug. 26 Kabul bomber…