A CNN exclusive revealed new evidence that challenges the Pentagon’s narrative of the events during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. On Aug. 26, 2021, a suicide bomber attacked Kabul airport, killing 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghans. The Pentagon consistently stated that the bomb alone caused all casualties.
However, recently released GoPro footage from a Marine at the scene shows multiple instances of gunfire immediately following the blast— far more than the Pentagon’s stated “three bursts.” The footage documented at least 11 separate instances of gunfire within four minutes, which contradicts official reports.
The Department of Defense released the results of a two-year supplemental review in April. The department that found no new information had any material impact on the original investigation’s findings. However, CNN interviews and additional evidence tell a different story.
U.S. military personnel described the gunfire originating from a nearby group of Marines.
An Afghan doctor reported treating many for gunshot wounds. He said that gunfire killed more than 70 of the deceased, not just injuries from the explosion.
In response, the Pentagon claimed that the doctor was mistaken and that the gunfire was merely “warning shots.”
U.S. Central Command maintained a lone suicide bomber carried out the attack and that no one was hit by gunfire. Testimony from over 100 witnesses supported that conclusion.
However, discrepancies remain. An officer’s account one month after the attack praised a Marine for “putting down” an opposing gunman. Christian Sanchez, a soldier injured in the blast, confirmed he returned fire after the explosion in an interview with “The Brrks Podcast.“
Despite extensive social media testimonies from U.S. service members who witnessed significant gunfire, officials have dismissed these claims as effects of traumatic brain injury from the blast. The Pentagon has released only five minutes of edited drone footage from the aftermath, raising further questions about the completeness of the evidence.
