US Marine Corps Sergeant Tyler Vargas-Andrews gave emotional testimony at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the evacuation from Afghanistan, recounting his experience of the deadly terrorist attack at Kabul airport's Abbey Gate in August 2021. His testimony was a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by US service members in Afghanistan, and the Committee will continue to investigate the circumstances of the attack and withdrawal.
Posts tagged as “Afghanistan”
The Biden administration has repatriated two Pakistani brothers who had been held without charges at the Guantanamo Bay military prison for two decades. The repatriation is part of the administration's ongoing efforts to reduce the number of detainees held at the prison and to close the facility. The U.S. has also transferred several detainees to other countries and released a Saudi man in March after 14 years of detention.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate in California on Tuesday, joining a competitive Democratic primary. In her campaign announcement video, Lee highlighted her record of advocating for social justice and economic equality, as well as her personal story. She is the third member of Congress to enter the race for Feinstein’s seat, with the Democratic primary taking place in June 2022.
Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has died at the age of 79. His rule was marked by tensions with India, an atomic proliferation scandal, and an Islamic extremist insurgency, as well as aiding the U.S. war in Afghanistan against the Taliban. His death marks the end of a tumultuous era in Pakistan's history, and his legacy will be remembered as a complex one of successes and failures.
President Joe Biden has announced Jeff Zients as his next White House chief of staff, replacing Ron Klain who has served in the role since 2020. Biden praised Klain for his leadership and said he is confident Zients will continue his example. Zients is an experienced technocrat and will help Biden prepare for his reelection bid while facing investigations from a newly empowered House Republican majority. There will be an official transition event at the White House next week to thank Klain and welcome Zients in his new role.
On Wednesday night, a U.S. military operation in northern Somalia killed a senior leader of the Islamic State terrorist group, Bilal al-Sudani, and 10 other ISIS fighters. The operation was part of a larger effort to target and eliminate ISIS leaders and operatives in the region, and was successful with no civilian casualties. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said al-Sudani was responsible for fostering the growing presence of ISIS in Africa and funding the group's operations worldwide.
Former Afghan female lawmaker Mursal Nabizada and her bodyguard were shot dead in her Kabul home on Sunday morning. An investigation is underway to determine who carried out the attack, which has sparked outrage in the city. Nabizada was a vocal advocate for women's rights and had been a vocal critic of the Taliban. The Afghan government has promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.
WASHINGTON — Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced her intention to run for California’s U.S. Senate seat in a closed-door meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus…