Sachin Walls
On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing attack occurred at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing 13 US military personnel and approximately 160 civilians. The Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan, ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the attack, naming the bomber as Abdul Rahman al-Logari. The attack took place during an evacuation operation, with thousands of civilians at Abbey Gate seeking to leave the country. In the aftermath of the attack, many nations expressed their condemnation and offered their support to the victims and troops conducting evacuations. The US military’s central commander, General Kenneth F McKenzie, vowed to take action against those responsible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 August 2021 |
| Location | Abbey Gate, Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Type of attack | Suicide bombing |
| Target | American troops and their Afghan allies |
| Attacker | ISIS-K |
| Attacker's name | Abdul Rahman al-Logari |
| Number of attackers | 1 |
| Number of deaths | 13 U.S. military service members, 160-170+ civilians |
| Number of injuries | 15 U.S. troops, unknown number of civilians |
| Warning | U.S. citizens were warned to "leave immediately" |
| Previous attack | June 20, 2016: ISIS-K suicide bomber killed embassy guards and civilians at the Canadian embassy in Kabul |
| Arrests | Mohammad Sharifullah, ISIS-K attack planner |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
ISIS-K claims responsibility for the Kabul airport attack
On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing attack took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing 13 US military service members and approximately 160 civilians. ISIS-K, or ISIS-Khorasan, claimed responsibility for the attack.
ISIS-K, a sworn enemy of the Taliban, is a terrorist organisation that has been responsible for thousands of deaths since its formation in 2015. The group has built up a presence in eastern Afghanistan, particularly in the provinces of Nangahar and Kunar. In June 2021, the group claimed responsibility for an attack on an international demining charity, the Halo Trust, which left 10 people dead and 16 others wounded.
Following the Kabul airport attack, ISIS-K named the bomber as Abdul Rahman al-Logari. US President Joe Biden pledged to retaliate against the group, stating, "We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay." In March 2025, the US arrested and charged Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as "Jafar", a member of ISIS-K, with providing material support to the terrorist organisation, resulting in death. Sharifullah admitted to helping prepare for the attack by scouting a route near the airport and communicating to other ISIS-K members that the route was clear.
The Kabul airport attack was widely condemned by the international community, including the United Nations, the European Commission, and various nations. The United Kingdom continued its evacuation operation, Operation Pitting, despite the attack. The Taliban also vowed to capture the ISIS-K leader, Shahab al-Muhajir.
Paper ID: A Valid Airport Travel Document?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Abdul Rahman al-Logari identified as the suicide bomber
Abdul Rahman al-Logari has been identified as the suicide bomber responsible for the 2021 Kabul airport attack in Afghanistan. The attack killed 13 U.S. military service members and approximately 160 civilians, including Afghan civilians. Al-Logari was a member of the terrorist organization ISIS-K, which claimed responsibility for the attack.
On August 26, 2021, American and other Coalition military forces were conducting an evacuation operation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, with Abbey Gate serving as the main entry point. Thousands of civilians had gathered at the gate for evacuation. At around 5:36 p.m., al-Logari detonated a body-worn suicide bomb, causing extensive casualties.
The attack was met with widespread condemnation, and several nations expressed solidarity with the victims and troops conducting evacuations. The United Kingdom government affirmed its commitment to continuing Operation Pitting, the evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan, despite the attack. The European Commission and the United Nations also denounced the attack.
In the aftermath of the bombing, investigations revealed conflicting accounts regarding the extent of gunfire that took place following the explosion. While the Pentagon maintained that there was minimal gunfire and that all casualties were attributed to the suicide bombing, eyewitnesses, including U.S. military personnel and an Afghan doctor, corroborated that extensive gunfire occurred, resulting in multiple injuries. This was further supported by newly disclosed video footage from a Marine's GoPro camera in April 2024.
The identification of Abdul Rahman al-Logari as the suicide bomber has been confirmed by various sources, including ISIS-K and the U.S. military. The attack highlighted the dangerous nature of the evacuation mission and the ongoing efforts to bring those involved in the planning and execution of such attacks to justice.
Santorini Airport: A Quick Guide to the Airport
You may want to see also
Explore related products
US military deaths—the largest single loss of life since 2020
On 26 August 2021, an ISIS–K member named Abdul Rahman al-Logari detonated a suicide bomb at Abbey Gate in Kabul airport, Afghanistan, killing 13 U.S. military service members and approximately 160 civilians. The attack was the largest single loss of life of U.S. military personnel since February 2020, and the first U.S. service deaths in Afghanistan since then. The dead Americans were identified as eleven Marines, one soldier from the 8th Psychological Operations Group, and one Navy corpsman.
The attack took place during an evacuation operation at Hamid Karzai International Airport. Abbey Gate was the main entry point for the operation, with thousands of civilians gathered there for evacuation. The U.S. military described the ISIS–K members killed in a subsequent airstrike as "high-profile ISIS targets" and "planners and facilitators". One of these targets was identified as Kabir Aidi, who was involved in planning attacks and making magnetic IEDs. He was also involved with the orchestrators of the bombing at the airport.
The Kabul airport attack was widely condemned, with the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United Nations expressing their solidarity with the victims and troops conducting evacuations. The father of Kareem Nikoui, who was killed in the bombing, interrupted the 2024 State of the Union Address within the United States Capitol, heckling during the speech.
The U.S. Department of Justice has since arrested and charged Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as “Jafar,” a member of ISIS-K, with providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death. Sharifullah admitted to helping prepare for the attack, including scouting a route for the attacker and communicating that the route was clear. FBI Director Kash Patel described the attack as "an act of terrorism".
Airport Shopping: Why the High Prices?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Eyewitnesses report extensive gunfire, contradicting Pentagon accounts
On 26 August 2021, an ISIS-K member, Abdul Rahman al-Logari, detonated a suicide bomb at Abbey Gate, Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The bomb killed 13 US military service members and approximately 160 civilians. ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the attack.
In April 2024, CNN reported on newly disclosed video footage from a Marine's GoPro camera. The footage revealed extensive gunfire following the explosion, contradicting Pentagon accounts of minimal gunfire. Eyewitnesses, including US military personnel and an Afghan doctor, corroborated that the gunfire was extensive and resulted in multiple injuries. The video showed 11 instances of gunfire over four minutes. However, the Pentagon maintained its findings from the 2021 and 2023 investigations, attributing all casualties to the suicide bombing and stating that no civilians were hit by coalition gunfire.
The attack had severe repercussions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel cancelled a planned trip to Israel and stayed in Germany to monitor the evacuation of German troops. The United Kingdom said civilian evacuations would continue despite the attack. Biden rescheduled a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett due to the attack.
The US arrested Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as "Jafar," a member of ISIS-K, and charged him with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death. Sharifullah admitted to helping prepare for the attack by scouting a route near the airport and communicating that the path was clear for the attacker. The FBI, Department of Justice, and CIA worked together to bring Sharifullah to justice.
Dulles Airport: Hurricane Impact and Travel Disruptions
You may want to see also
Explore related products
US arrests ISIS-K attack planner, Mohammad Sharifullah
On 26 August 2021, American and Coalition forces were conducting an evacuation operation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. At around 5:30 pm, a suicide bomb was detonated at Abbey Gate, the main entry point for the operation, killing 13 US military service members and approximately 160 civilians. ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the attack, naming the bomber as Abdul Rahman al-Logari.
In March 2025, the US arrested and charged Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as "Jafar", a member of ISIS-K, with providing and conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation, resulting in death. Sharifullah admitted to helping prepare for the attack, including scouting a route near the airport and communicating to other ISIS-K members that the route was clear. He also admitted to recognising al-Logari as an ISIS-K operative he had previously known and to supporting ISIS-K in multiple other lethal attacks. Sharifullah faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
The US Department of Justice stated that Sharifullah's arrest sends a clear message that the US is committed to holding accountable those who facilitate and carry out acts of terror against the country. FBI Director Kash Patel described the attack as "an act of terrorism" and vowed to continue to hunt down those responsible for the attack and bring them to justice.
The Kabul airport attack was widely condemned by the international community, including the United Kingdom, the European Commission, and the United Nations. The attack highlighted the ongoing security concerns in Afghanistan and led to calls for justice and accountability.
Greenland's Airports: A Travel Mystery Unveiled
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
26 August 2021.
ISIS-K, an Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan.
It is estimated that at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 US service members were killed.
The attack was condemned by many nations, the European Commission, and the United Nations. The US vowed to "hunt down" those responsible and continue evacuations.
