US Upgrades Awards for Marines in Kabul Airport Suicide Attack Response
Spokesperson Sean Parnell, who is also overseeing a review of the 2021 withdrawal, said the Marines stationed at Abbey Gate were positioned in the direct blast zone with limited protection and were aware of an imminent suicide threat, yet continued their duties to keep evacuation operations running.
“The Marines at Abbey Gate were positioned in the direct blast zone with minimal cover, fully aware of an imminent suicide attack, yet they held their ground to keep evacuation operations running,” he said. “Their actions that day were heroic. The original awards did not reflect that reality. Today’s upgrades correct that injustice,” according to reports.
Parnell did not disclose the identities of the Marines involved or specify how many service members would receive upgraded valor awards, noting only that the decision was made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The attack took place on August 26, 2021, when a suicide bombing claimed by ISIS (Daesh) hit Kabul airport, killing 13 US service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians, according to reports.
The incident occurred during the final phase of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which ended two decades of military presence that began in 2001. The withdrawal process was widely criticized by Republican lawmakers, who blamed the Biden administration for what they described as a chaotic evacuation.
The collapse of the internationally recognized Afghan government followed shortly after, as Taliban forces rapidly took control of the country amid the departure of foreign troops, according to reports.
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