President Donald Trump says the leader behind an attack in Afghanistan in 2021 that killed 13 U.S. service members has been apprehended.
The President announced the capture of the “top terrorist” during his speech before a joint Congress on Tuesday evening.
“Tonight, I am 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 said.
Trump thanked Pakistan for assisting with the arrest of the suspect identified as Mohammad Sharifullah.
“And I want to thank, especially, the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster… This was a very momentous day for those 13 families, who I actually got to know very well.”
The service members’ deaths occurred during the volatile U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The 11 Marines, one Navy corpsman, and one sailor were killed while defending the Kabul airport as scores of people, both Americans and Afghan allies, rushed to flee the country.
In addition to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, at least 170 Afghan civilians were injured in the attack on Abbey Gate, one of the gates leading into the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
Following the U.S. withdrawal, the Taliban quickly regained control of the country.
As previously detailed in The Dallas Express, allied families who worked with American troops, helping with translation efforts, for example, sought refuge in the United States, with some eventually making their way to Dallas.
“I spoke to many of the parents and loved ones, and they’re all in our hearts tonight,” Trump said.
“I spoke to them on the phone. We had a big call. Every one of them called. And everybody was on the line, and they did nothing but cry with happiness. They were very happy. As happy as you can be under those circumstances. Their child, brother, sister, son, daughter was killed for no reason whatsoever.”
Families of the victims accused the previous administration of negligence for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Some parents have gone as far as to blame the Biden administration for the death of their loved ones.
“The lethal attack that killed 13 American service members and Afghan civilians during the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan was an act of terrorism,” said FBI Director Kash Patel in a press release.
“ISIS-K brazenly claimed responsibility for the carnage. Now thanks to the assistance of the FBI, Department of Justice, and the CIA, we have secured Sharifullah’s apprehension and transport to the U.S. to face American justice. The FBI will never forget the loss of these American heroes, we will continue to hunt down those who viciously murdered our warriors, we will find all responsible and bring them to justice.”