Owais Crawford
ISIS has been responsible for several attacks on airports around the world. In 2021, a suicide bombing at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan killed over 180 people, including Afghan civilians and U.S. military personnel. ISIS-K, an ISIS affiliate, claimed responsibility for the attack. In 2025, Israel carried out airstrikes on Yemen's main airport in Sanaa, controlled by the Houthis, in retaliation for a Houthi missile attack near Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. ISIS has also been implicated in other airport-related incidents, including the arrest of an ISIS-K attack planner in 2025 for a bombing that killed U.S. military service members in Afghanistan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2025 |
| Month | May |
| Day | 6 |
| Country | Israel |
| Target | Yemen's main airport in Sanaa |
| Group Responsible | Israeli Military |
| Group Affected | Houthis |
| Number of People Killed | 3-4 |
| Number of People Injured | 35-39 |
| Damage | Extensive; targeted three civilian planes, the departures hall, the runway, and a military air base |
| Reason | Retaliation for a Houthi missile attack near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport |
| Political Context | Tensions between Israel and the Houthis, a group aligned with Iran |
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What You'll Learn
- ISIS-K suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan
- ISIS-K member Abdul Rahman al-Logari detonated a suicide vest
- ISIS-K attack planner Mohammad Sharifullah charged with material support
- Sharifullah conducted surveillance and scouted the route for the attacker
- ISIS-K gunmen attacked Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia
ISIS-K suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan
On 26 August 2021, an ISIS-K suicide bomber detonated a bomb at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing 13 U.S. military personnel and approximately 160 to 170 civilians. The attack took place during an evacuation operation, with Abbey Gate serving as the main entry point. The bomber, Abdul Rahman al-Logari, detonated a body-worn explosive belt at the gate, where thousands of civilians had gathered in hopes of being evacuated.
ISIS-K, or ISIS-Khorasan, is the Islamic State's Afghanistan and Pakistan arm. The group had been active in Afghanistan since 2015, founded by Pakistani national Hafiz Saeed Khan, who pledged allegiance to the former leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. ISIS-K has a history of carrying out attacks in Afghanistan, including a 2016 suicide bombing at the Canadian embassy in Kabul that killed over ten embassy guards and multiple civilians.
The 2021 Kabul airport attack was met with widespread condemnation, and world leaders expressed solidarity with the victims and troops conducting evacuations. The United Nations estimated that ISIS-K maintained a force of 1,500 to 2,200 fighters in Afghanistan's Konar and Nangahar provinces, with smaller cells scattered across the country. The attack highlighted the ongoing security concerns in Afghanistan and the rivalry between ISIS-K and the Taliban.
In response to the attack, the United States launched airstrikes targeting suspected ISIS-K members and arrested individuals involved in planning and supporting the attack. The Taliban had previously fought against ISIS-K and was helping U.S. forces maintain security at the airport during the evacuation. The bombing had a significant impact on the evacuation efforts and underscored the complex and dangerous nature of the situation in Afghanistan.
The attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport was a tragic event that resulted in the loss of many lives and highlighted the ongoing security challenges posed by extremist groups like ISIS-K in Afghanistan. The international community's response demonstrated a united front against such acts of terrorism and a commitment to holding those responsible to account.
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ISIS-K member Abdul Rahman al-Logari detonated a suicide vest
On August 26, 2021, ISIS-K member Abdul Rahman al-Logari detonated a suicide vest at the Abbey Gate of Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, killing 13 U.S. military service members and approximately 160 civilians. The suicide vest was laden with 20 pounds of military-grade explosives and 5-millimeter ball bearings, which ripped through the densely packed crowd.
Al-Logari was a member of the Islamic State in Khorasan Province group, or ISIS-K, and had been detained by coalition forces before being released by the Taliban as they swept to take control of Afghanistan. U.S. intelligence compared a photo of the alleged bomber posted by ISIS-K with photos of al-Logari taken during his detention and used facial analysis to confirm his identity.
The attack took place during an evacuation operation conducted by American and other Coalition military forces. Abbey Gate was the main entry point for the operation, with thousands of civilians gathered there seeking evacuation.
In the aftermath of the attack, U.S. President Biden vowed that "these ISIS terrorists will not win" and pledged to continue the evacuation efforts. He also promised to attack ISIS-K leadership and facilities.
The U.S. military conducted a review of the attack, which found that U.S. troops did not spot al-Logari before he detonated his suicide vest. An official stated that al-Logari did not linger in the crowd and detonated the vest shortly after arriving at Abbey Gate, making it very unlikely that even trained observers could have identified him in time.
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ISIS-K attack planner Mohammad Sharifullah charged with material support
On March 2, 2025, the United States charged Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as "Jafar," a member of the terrorist organization ISIS-K, with providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death. Sharifullah has been arrested and is expected to appear in the Eastern District of Virginia.
On August 26, 2021, American and Coalition military forces were conducting an evacuation operation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Abbey Gate was the main entry point for the operation, with thousands of civilians gathered for evacuation. At approximately 5:36 p.m., an ISIS-K suicide bomber detonated a bomb, killing 13 U.S. military service members and approximately 160 civilians.
During an interview with FBI Special Agents, Sharifullah admitted to helping prepare for the Abbey Gate attack, including scouting a route near the airport for the attacker. He checked for law enforcement and American or Taliban checkpoints and communicated to ISIS-K members that the route was clear. Sharifullah also admitted to supporting and conducting activities on behalf of ISIS-K in multiple other lethal attacks, including a 2016 suicide bombing at the Canadian embassy in Kabul and a 2024 attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia.
Sharifullah faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted. The U.S. Department of Justice stated that it will ensure that terrorists like Sharifullah have no safe haven and will bring them to justice.
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Sharifullah conducted surveillance and scouted the route for the attacker
Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as "Jafar," was a member of the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K). He was arrested and charged by the United States with providing and conspiring to offer material aid and resources to a foreign terrorist organisation, which led to the deaths of 13 US military personnel and around 160 civilians.
Sharifullah was released from an Afghan prison just weeks before the bombing and was immediately contacted by ISIS-K to assist in the attack. They provided him with a motorcycle, funds for a cellphone and a SIM card, and instructions to create a social media account to communicate during the operation.
Sharifullah was not deemed a "top-level planner" or "mastermind" of the attack by the FBI, despite President Trump describing him as "the top terrorist responsible." However, he did play a direct role in the attack, and his involvement was confirmed by the FBI.
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ISIS-K gunmen attacked Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia
On March 22, 2024, ISIS-K gunmen attacked Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia, killing around 130 people and injuring hundreds more. This was a coordinated terrorist attack against civilians by four terrorists associated with the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP or ISIS-K). The gunmen opened fire on the crowd with AK-style assault rifles, pistols, and knives, and also used incendiary devices to set the venue on fire.
The attack occurred shortly before a sold-out show by the Russian band Picnic was scheduled to begin. As the show was about to start, some believed the initial sound of gunshots was part of the act. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released via Telegram by the IS-affiliated Amaq News Agency. They stated that the attackers "retreated to their bases safely".
This was ISIS-K's first successful attack in Russia and its first mass-casualty attack outside of its traditional area of operations in South Asia. According to the United States, ISIS-K probably attacked Russia to demonstrate its ability to extend its reach beyond South Asia and because of Moscow's relationship with the Taliban and ongoing military intervention against ISIS in Syria. In the aftermath of the attack, there have been arrests of suspected ISIS-K members and supporters in Russia, Tajikistan, and the United States.
The United States had warned Russia about the threat of an ISIS-K attack on large gatherings and concerts in Moscow weeks before the attack. Despite this, Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to link the assailants to Ukraine, which has been described as disinformation. The attack was the deadliest terrorist attack in Europe since the Beslan school siege in 2004 and has highlighted the ongoing threat posed by ISIS-K, both within and beyond its traditional areas of operation.
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Frequently asked questions
On August 26, 2021, an ISIS-K member, Abdul Rahman al-Logari, detonated a suicide bomb at Abbey Gate, Kabul airport, killing 13 US military service members and approximately 160-170 civilians. This was during an evacuation operation where thousands of civilians were at the gate.
ISIS-K stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province.
The US charged Mohammad Sharifullah, aka "Jafar", a member of ISIS-K, with providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Yes, Sharifullah admitted to helping prepare for the attack, including scouting a route near the airport and communicating that the route was clear.
Yes, ISIS has carried out several other attacks, including a suicide bombing in 2016 that killed over ten embassy guards and multiple civilians guarding the Canadian embassy in Kabul.
