A shocking revelation in Washington: Who carried out the White House attack?
In a shocking development, US media revealed that the Afghan national suspected of carrying out the shooting attack targeting two National Guard members near the White House was a former ally who had worked closely with US special forces in Afghanistan. US authorities have described the attack as an “act of terrorism,” raising serious questions about refugee resettlement programs and security vetting procedures.
The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakkanwal, 29, opened fire on a National Guard patrol Wednesday afternoon, wounding two soldiers before being shot and taken to a hospital for treatment, according to reports from The New York Times, CBS, and NBC.
The suspect's background: From the battlefields of Kandahar to the streets of Washington
The biggest surprise lies in Lacanwal's background. He arrived in the United States in September 2021 under the "Welcome Allies" evacuation program. According to relatives of the suspect, he served for ten years in the Afghan National Army, working alongside U.S. special forces stationed in Kandahar, a region known for Taliban activity. Fox News, citing former CIA Director John Ratcliffe, added that Lacanwal worked with various U.S. government entities, including the intelligence community, making him a trusted ally in the eyes of the United States at the time.
Historical context: Operation “Welcome Allies” and the chaotic US withdrawal
To understand how Lakhanwal ended up in the United States, one must go back to August 2021, when the administration of President Joe Biden implemented a complete military withdrawal from Afghanistan. This withdrawal led to the rapid collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government and the Taliban's takeover of Kabul within days. Amid the chaos, the United States launched Operation Allies Welcome, a large-scale evacuation mission to rescue tens of thousands of vulnerable Afghans, including interpreters and staff who had worked with U.S. forces for two decades. More than 190,000 Afghans have been resettled in the United States since then. While the operation was intended to save lives, it was conducted under extremely difficult conditions and immense time pressure, raising concerns about the authorities' ability to conduct thorough security vetting of all those evacuated.
Immediate political and security repercussions
The incident sparked an immediate political firestorm. Former President Donald Trump stated that the suspect arrived on “one of those infamous flights,” referring to the evacuation flights. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also criticized the security screening process. The government response was swift and decisive; shortly after the incident, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the indefinite suspension of all asylum applications from Afghans. This decision represents a significant policy shift and underscores the profound impact a single incident can have on thousands of people fleeing persecution. The attack is expected to further fuel the national debate on immigration policy, national security, and the United States’ responsibility to its former allies in conflict zones.
