Pentagon chief orders ‘comprehensive review’ into 2021 US Afghanistan withdrawal

WASHINGTON - US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a “comprehensive review” on May 20 of the

US’ chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan

in August 2021, an evacuation operation in which 13 US service members and 150 Afghans were killed at Kabul’s airport in an ISIS bombing.

It was unclear how Mr Hegseth’s review would differ from the many previous reviews that were carried out – including by the US military, State Department and even US President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans in the House of Representatives.

Mr Hegseth could be accused of politicising the matter.

The Biden administration, which oversaw the 2021 pullout,

blamed the resulting chaos

mostly

on a lack of planning

and reductions in troops by the first Trump administration, following a 2020 deal with the Taliban to withdraw US forces.

On the campaign trail, Mr Trump frequently criticised Mr Biden and his administration for the withdrawal.

In a memo, Mr Hegseth said that after three months of reviewing the withdrawal, a comprehensive review was needed to ensure accountability for this event.

“This remains an important step towards regaining faith and trust with the American people and all those who wear the uniform, and is prudent based on the number of casualties and equipment lost during the execution of this withdrawal operation,” Mr Hegseth wrote.

In a statement accompanying the memo, he said Pentagon spokesman and senior adviser Sean Parnell would lead the review.

Other individuals who served in Afghanistan, such as Mr Stuart Scheller, who was publicly critical of the withdrawal while he was in the Marine Corps, would be a part of the review panel.

Senior US military officials, including then Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and then top US General Mark Milley, have already appeared before lawmakers.

US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, has also carried out an investigation into the ISIS attack that killed the 13 US troops and dozens of Afghans during the last few days of the withdrawal. REUTERS