Near Farragut Square, following the attack on two National Guard soldiers, in Washington, November 26, 2025. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP
Two National Guard soldiers deployed in Washington, DC were shot near Farragut Square in the heart of the US capital on Wednesday, November 26. Located just two blocks away from the White House, the symbolism was hard to miss. The soldiers, members of the West Virginia National Guard, were hospitalized in critical condition after first responders arrived quickly at the scene. According to the city's mayor, Muriel Bowser, they appeared to be victims of a "targeted shooting."
A suspect, who was also shot and wounded, is in police custody. He appeared from around a street corner just after 2:15 pm local time and opened fire. Investigators identified him as a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the United States in September 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome. The US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, ordered by president Joe Biden after the Taliban unexpectedly regained power, was marked by confusion and panic. At the time, tens of thousands of Afghans in vulnerable or desperate situations had to be evacuated on short notice, in recognition of their collaboration with the US. In total, more than 70,000 people arrived in the US under these circumstances and were given a two-year period to regularize their status.
