Mohammad Sharifullah Convicted for Kabul Bombing

Mohammad Sharifullah, an alleged Islamic State militant, was convicted by a federal jury in Virginia of a conspiracy charge for providing material support to Islamic State's regional branch, ISIS-K. This conviction is linked to the deadly suicide bombing at Kabul airport during the United States' chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which killed approximately 160 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members. The jury, however, deadlocked on whether any deaths at the airport 'resulted from' his conspiracy, which could have led to a life sentence; he now faces a maximum of 20 years. Prosecutor Ryan White argued Mohammad Sharifullah played a crucial role in planning the Abbey Gate bombing and other attacks, including a March 2024 attack in Moscow. Defense attorney Lawrence Rosen contended that prosecutors lacked evidence beyond Mohammad Sharifullah's statements to the United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation, suggesting coercion. The event has also been a point of political contention, with Donald Trump criticizing Joe Biden's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.