# ISIS-K militant sentenced for Abbey Gate bombing

> A terrorist who helped plan the 2021 Kabul airport attack that killed 13 US service members receives 20 years in prison.
- Title: ISIS-K militant sentenced for Abbey Gate bombing · Fox News
- Summary: A terrorist who helped plan the 2021 Kabul airport attack that killed 13 US service members receives 20 years in prison. Mohammed Sharifullah was convicted…
- Keywords: isis-k, abbey gate bombing, kabul airport, afghanistan withdrawal, mohammed sharifullah, terrorism, suicide bombing, us military, 2021, material support conviction, news, politics
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/us/isis-k-militant-sentenced-20-years-supporting-deadly-2021-abbey-gate-bombing
- Author: Louis Casiano
- Published: 2026-09-16T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: isis-k, abbey gate bombing, kabul airport, afghanistan withdrawal, mohammed sharifullah, terrorism, suicide bombing, us military, 2021, material support conviction, news, politics
## ISIS-K militant sentenced to 20 years
Mohammed Sharifullah, an ISIS-K member, was convicted of providing material support for the deadly Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul airport in August 2021.
## 13 US troops killed in the attack
On August 26, 2021, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device near Abbey Gate, killing 13 American service members and over 160 Afghans during evacuation operations.
## Sharifullah scouted the attack route
During FBI interviews, Sharifullah admitted he surveilled a possible route for the suicide bomber to Abbey Gate, checking for law enforcement and checkpoints.

> Sharifullah conducted surveillance on a route, specifically checking for law enforcement and American or Taliban checkpoints.
## ISIS-K provided logistics and instructions
ISIS-K members gave Sharifullah a motorcycle, phone funds, a SIM card, and instructions to open a social media account to communicate with them during the attack.
## Jury deadlocked on death causation
Jurors could not unanimously agree whether deaths at the airport resulted from the conspiracy, which prevented Sharifullah from facing a possible life sentence.
## Father says sentence is insufficient
Mark Schmitz, whose son Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz was killed in the bombing, said the 20-year sentence is not enough for someone involved in such a heinous act.

> The terrorist bombing took my son physically from me. They can never take his legacy as a human being.
## Trump announced Sharifullah's capture
President Trump announced Sharifullah's apprehension during a March 2025 address to Congress, calling him the top terrorist responsible for the Abbey Gate attack.
## Key takeaway

Mohammed Sharifullah was convicted of providing material support to ISIS-K for the August 2021 Abbey Gate suicide bombing, one of the deadliest attacks on American troops during the Afghanistan withdrawal.