Pentagon to Review 2021 Afghanistan Withdrawal, Says U.S. Defense Secretary

In a move signaling renewed efforts for transparency and accountability, the U.S. Department of Defense has announced a formal review of the 2021 military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The decision comes nearly four years after the chaotic exit that claimed the lives of 13 American service members and 170 Afghan civilians during a suicide bombing at Kabul International Airport’s Abbey Gate.

The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth stated that the review is aimed at providing the American public and military personnel with a full and honest account of what transpired during one of the most turbulent military operations in recent U.S. history.

The Pentagon is taking steps to address the long-standing concerns surrounding the execution of the withdrawal, which many have criticized as disorganized and avoidable.

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“President Trump and I have formally pledged full transparency for what transpired during our military withdrawal from Afghanistan,” the memo reads. It emphasizes the need to regain public trust by laying out the facts surrounding the operation, particularly given the number of casualties and the volume of equipment lost.

To carry out this review, the Department is convening a Special Review Panel (SRP), led by the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and Senior Advisor Sean Parnell.

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This panel will revisit previous investigations, review findings of fact, examine sources and witness testimony, and analyze the decision-making that contributed to what the Secretary described as “one of America’s darkest and deadliest international moments.”

The Department stressed that this initiative is not only about reviewing past actions but also about reaffirming the core values of accountability and integrity to the American public and to those who served.

This move by the Pentagon is being widely viewed as a step toward healing and reflection, with hopes that it will offer clarity and closure to the families of those affected, while ensuring that lessons are learned from this critical chapter in U.S. foreign policy.