Source: U.S. Department of State Bureau of Global Public Affairs
Five years ago, on August 26, 13 American service members were killed and dozens more were wounded when an ISIS-K terrorist detonated a suicide bomb at Abbey Gate outside Kabul airport, Afghanistan.
“As our Nation remembers this atrocious attack, we honor the memory of every brave warrior who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” the White House said on X. “We join in grief with the families who lost a loved one, and renew our solemn pledge to never forget the 13 fallen patriots – their memory will live on forever.”
To honor their memory, President Trump signed a proclamation marking the fifth anniversary of the attack, August 26. He honored each of the fallen service members by name and renewed the administration's commitment to their families.
"We solemnly honor their selflessness and valor,” the President said in his proclamation. “I will always stand by our service members, support our military families, and I will never allow the failures that led to Abbey Gate to be repeated.”
On X, the State Department told the stories of the thirteen men and women killed at Abbey Gate, such as Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum who was expecting his first child and planned to become a history teacher and Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, who was killed attempting to help two Afghan trampled by the crowd. Her final words were “they need me, sir.”
“We stand with the Gold Star families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great country,” Secretary of State Rubio said in a statement. “Our prayers will forever remain with them and the 45 U.S. service members who were injured during this terrible terrorist attack.”
The president encouraged all Americans to remember the heroism of the brave men and women who died.
“On this solemn anniversary, we renew our sacred promise to the 13 fallen service members and their families that we will always remember their names, cherish their memory, and never forget the price they paid for our country,” President Trump said.