Pentagon launches review of 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a comprehensive Pentagon review of the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, aiming to ensure full accountability and transparency. In a memo released Tuesday, Hegseth stated the review panel will assess previous investigations, examine decision-making processes, and evaluate witness accounts related to the chaotic exit.

The withdrawal allowed Taliban forces to quickly retake control of Afghanistan, culminating in a rushed evacuation from Kabul’s airport that airlifted over 120,000 people. A suicide bombing on August 26, 2021, killed more than 170 civilians and 13 U.S. service members. Critics argue that the Biden administration’s decision to exit contributed to the swift collapse of Afghan forces.