Logo

National security adviser Mike Waltz asserted Wednesday that Trump officials got the mastermind behind the deadly August 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan to confess before flying the “monster” back to the US overnight.

“He confessed. This was the planner of that bombing that killed our 13,” Waltz told “Fox & Friends,” referencing the US service members killed outside the Kabul airport during the botched evacuation of Americans and their Afghan allies ahead of the Taliban reconquest.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt identified the terrorist as Mohammad Sharifullah and said he was delivered to Dulles airport in northern Virginia Wednesday morning. 


  National Security Adviser Mike Waltz announced Wednesday that Trump officials got the terrorist behind Abbey Gate to confess. Fox News National Security Adviser Mike Waltz announced Wednesday that Trump officials got the terrorist behind Abbey Gate to confess. Fox News

Sharifullah had been involved in crimes in Russia and Iran as well, Leavitt said, adding that President Trump kept his promise to Gold Star families by detaining the “evil” individual.

“Joe Biden was responsible for this botched withdrawal, and he had three years to find this evil terrorist, and he didn’t even try to get the job done,” the press secretary told reporters.

News of the confession came a day after Trump announced that the US had secured the “top terrorist” during his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.

Along with Waltz’s national security team, led by Sebastian Gorka, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel all played a role in the apprehension and extraction.

“They all went out and met the agents last night in the middle of the night as they flew this monster back,” Waltz said.


  Thirteen American service members were killed in the 2021 attack. VIA REUTERS Thirteen American service members were killed in the 2021 attack. VIA REUTERS

Waltz also described the “emotional” response from Gold Star Families after they learned the Trump administration had nabbed the ISIS-K terrorist.

“They were emotional. If you remember, one of the fathers, Steve Nikoui, in the last State of the Union, was so upset at Biden and his team that they had never said their families’ names. They didn’t even say Afghanistan. He kind of lost it and yelled out and was arrested,” Waltz said.

“To have these families, a month into the presidency, and having them thank the president for promises made, promises kept,” he added.

Waltz said it was “a step” toward trusting Pakistan, noting that after the US shared intelligence with the Islamabad government, “they moved on that intelligence and they extradited him.”


  Trump announced the terrorist had been caught during his joint session of Congress address on Tuesday. Getty Images Trump announced the terrorist had been caught during his joint session of Congress address on Tuesday. Getty Images


  The terrorist who masterminded the bombing has not been identified by officials. AFP via Getty Images The terrorist who masterminded the bombing has not been identified by officials. AFP via Getty Images

The chaotic withdrawal of US forces and diplomats prompted the Taliban to release thousands of ISIS terrorists from prisons as the Islamic fundamentalists swept across the country.

One of those terrorists, Abdul Rahman al-Logari, was later identified as the one who wore and detonated a suicide vest stuffed with 20 pounds of explosives and ball bearings, killing 168 Afghans in addition to the 13 service members, according to US military officials.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy