ISIS-K Supporter Receives 20-Year Sentence for Kabul Airport Attack

WHO:

ABC News - U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga stated, “If I could pose a sentence separately for each of your victims, I would.”

ABC News - Mark Schmitz, father of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, said, “I forgive you... I will not carry my hatred for you the rest of my life.”

ABC News - U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga described Sharifullah as a “dedicated terrorist” who expressed no remorse for the “unfathomable” grief and suffering he caused.

ABC News - Mark Schmitz, father of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, stated, “They may have taken his life, but they'll never take his legacy."

ABC News - Mohammad Sharifullah, an Islamic State group member, was convicted.

Fox News - Sean Parnell, senior advisor to the Secretary of War, honored the heroes of Abbey Gate.

Fox News - President Donald Trump announced the capture of Sharifullah during a March 2025 address.

WHAT:

ABC News - Sharifullah was convicted of providing material support to ISIS-K after admitting in interviews with the FBI that he aided them in plotting dozens of attacks over the course of roughly a decade.

ABC News - The jury deadlocked on whether Sharifullah's support was directly responsible for the deaths of 13 American service members and approximately 160 Afghan civilians.

ABC News - Sharifullah requested a 17-year prison sentence, while prosecutors sought 20 years.

ABC News - The judge expressed frustration that he could only sentence Sharifullah to a maximum of 20 years, stating, “If I could pose a sentence separately for each of your victims, I would.”

ABC News - Sharifullah was sentenced to 20 years in prison for aiding ISIS-K.

ABC News - The suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed 13 U.S. service members and about 160 Afghans.

Fox News - Sharifullah was convicted in April of providing material support to ISIS-K.

Fox News - Jurors deadlocked on whether any deaths at the airport resulted from Sharifullah's conspiracy.

ABC News - Sharifullah's role included scouting a route to Hamid Karzai International Airport.

ABC News - The maximum sentence for Sharifullah was imposed by U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga.

WHERE:

ABC News - The sentencing took place in Alexandria, Virginia.

ABC News - The suicide bombing occurred at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

WHEN:

ABC News - The suicide bombing occurred on August 26, 2021.

ABC News - Sharifullah was convicted in April.

Fox News - The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was completed days after the bombing.

WHY:

ABC News - Prosecutors stated that Sharifullah’s actions were driven by hate towards Americans, claiming he had pledged an oath of allegiance to ISIS-K since his teenage years.

ABC News - Prosecutors stated that Sharifullah's actions were driven by hate towards Americans.

ABC News - Sharifullah expressed a desire to "catch and kill the crusaders" from the U.S. after the September 11 attacks.

HOW:

Fox News - ISIS-K members provided Sharifullah with a motorcycle, funds for a cell phone, and instructions to open an account on a particular social media platform to communicate with them during the attack operation.

Fox News - Sharifullah admitted during FBI interviews that he conducted surveillance on a route for the suicide bomber, specifically checking for law enforcement and American or Taliban checkpoints.

ABC News - Sharifullah conducted surveillance for a possible route for the suicide bomber.

Fox News - ISIS-K members provided Sharifullah with a motorcycle, funds for a cell phone, and instructions for communication.

ABC News - Sharifullah did not testify at his trial and declined to address the court before sentencing.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 23:04 UTC)

Sharifullah has been convicted of providing material support to ISIS-K, admitting in FBI interviews that he aided in plotting numerous attacks over nearly a decade. During the proceedings, U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “If I could pose a sentence separately for each of your victims, I would,” while Mark Schmitz, the father of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, offered a poignant message of forgiveness, saying, “I forgive you... I will not carry my hatred for you the rest of my life.” Prosecutors highlighted that Sharifullah’s actions stemmed from a deep-seated hatred towards Americans, noting he had pledged allegiance to ISIS-K since his teenage years and received support from the group, including a motorcycle and funds for communication.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 22:03 UTC)

U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga has labeled Sharifullah a “dedicated terrorist” who showed no remorse for the immense suffering he caused, as the judge expressed frustration over the maximum 20-year sentence he could impose. Sharifullah had requested a 17-year prison term, while prosecutors argued for the full 20 years, emphasizing that his actions were fueled by a long-standing allegiance to ISIS-K and a deep-seated hatred for Americans. During FBI interviews, Sharifullah admitted to conducting surveillance for a suicide bomber, specifically looking for law enforcement and checkpoints operated by Americans or the Taliban.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 18:02 UTC)

Mohammad Sharifullah, an Islamic State group member, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for aiding ISIS-K, following his conviction in April for providing material support to the terrorist organization. The sentencing took place in Alexandria, Virginia, where U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga imposed the maximum sentence after Sharifullah's role in scouting a route for a suicide bomber that resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members and about 160 Afghans at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. During his trial, Sharifullah did not testify and chose not to address the court, despite prosecutors highlighting his motivations driven by hate towards Americans.