WATCH: Marine Breaks Down Recounting Afghanistan Pullout, Terror Attack That Killed 13 U.S. Soldiers: ‘Catastrophe’
Tyler Vargas-Andrews, a Marine sergeant in the U.S. withdrawal AfghanistanWednesday, he broke down while recounting the horror of seeing 13 U.S. soldiers killed in a suicide attack.
Vargas-Andrews spoke before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs about his experiences in Afghanistan. Vargas, who was a Marine sniper in Afghanistan at that time, and his team were sent from Saudi Arabia to Kabul to Afghanistan in August 2021 to manage the U.S. withdraw.
Vargas Andrews and his sniper group arrived at Hamid Karzai International Airport around mid-August. There, Vargas Andrews was assigned to the Abbey Gate. Here, the Marines handled thousands of Afghans fleeing Afghanistan and turned away many others. The gate also provided surveillance for Taliban and other terrorist activities.
“Tens of thousands of people descended upon Abbey Gate. We were looking for anyone with a blue passport first and foremost. People were suffering from extreme malnutrition, dehydration, heat casualties, and infants were dying. Afghans brutalized and tortured by the Taliban flocked to us pleading for help,” Vargas-Andrews stated in his prepared testimony. “Some Afghans turned away from HKIA tried to kill themselves on the razor wire we used as a deterrent. They thought this was merciful compared to the Taliban torture they faced. Countless Afghans were murdered by the Taliban 155 yards in front of our position day and night.”
State Department “unwillingness” Vargas-Andrews stated that the chaos was caused by the lack of assistance at the airport.
A meeting was held on August 22 between Taliban and ISIS militants. “test run” For a terrorist attack using an improvised bomb device (IED). Vargas Andrews and his team were able to identify a suspect terrorist bomber near the Abbey Gate on the 26th of August. “consistently and nervously” Observed the Marines near the gate.
Vargas Andrews claimed that Vargas-Andrews twice requested permission for his team to eliminate the suspect terrorist. His request for permission to kill the terrorist was turned down by Vargas-Andrews’ battalion commander. He was denied the second time by the battalion command, who went to Abbey Gate to meet the suspect. “I don’t know” They could if they had authority to exterminate the suspect.
“Myself and my team leader asked very harshly, ‘Well, who does? Because this is your responsibility, sir,'” Vargas and Andrews spoke to Congress. He replied that he’d find out.
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“We received no update and never got our answer. Eventually the individual disappeared,” Vargas-Andrews said. “To this day, we believe he was the suicide bomber.”
The bombing of Abbey Gate killed an estimated 170 Afghan civilians, and thirteen U.S. soldiers hours later. Vargas-Andrews died from serious injuries. injured His right arm and left leg were severely damaged in the explosion. He also lost parts of his colon and intestines. There have been many more surgeries for him since.
Vargas Andrews had to stop several times in his recounting of the August 26 memories to let out his emotions.
“Our military members and veterans deserve our best because that is what we give to America,” He said. “The withdrawal was a catastrophe in my opinion and there was an inexcusable lack of accountability and negligence. The eleven Marines, one Sailor, and one Soldier that were murdered that day have not been answered for.”
The emotional testimony of Sgt. Vargas and Andrews discuss suicide bombings at Kabal airport “I opened my eyes to marines dead or unconscious lying around me…The withdrawal was a catastrophe in my opinion. There was an inexcusable lack of accountability. and negligence.” pic.twitter.com/9DLr9LGP8u
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 8, 2023
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