President Donald Trump announced during his Tuesday night address to Congress that the United States had apprehended a terrorist behind the 2021 attack that killed 13 American service members during a bombing at the Abbey Gate in Afghanistan.
Trump said that ISIS-operative Mohammad Sharifullah had been detained and would soon face the “swift sword of American justice.” Sharifullah is suspected to have planned the bombing that killed 13 American soldiers and 170 Afghan nationals as the Biden administration withdrew from Afghanistan.
“Three-and-a-half years ago, ISIS terrorists killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing during the disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan. Not that they were withdrawing, it was the way they withdrew,” Trump said. “Perhaps the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country. Tonight I’m pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity and he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.”
Trump thanked Pakistan for its assistance in capturing Sharifullah.
The soldiers killed were Marines Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak, and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.
Trump added that he had talked to many of the parents and loved ones of the victims of the attack before his speech on Tuesday.
The capture was confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel.
“As President Trump just announced, I can report that tonight the FBI, DOJ, and CIA have extradited one of the terrorists responsible for the murder of the 13 American soldiers at Abbey Gate during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. One step closer to justice for these American heroes and their families,” he posted on X.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ripped into Democrats for not standing during the announcement.
“President Trump just announced the terrorist mastermind behind the Abbey Gate Bombing, which killed 13 US Service Members, has been apprehended and will soon come to America to face justice. Democrats did not stand or clap. Despicable people,” Leavitt said.
