WASHINGTON — The Afghan national accused of ambushing two National Guard soldiers near the White House previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, senior U.S. officials said Thursday, as investigators pressed forward with what the FBI now classifies as an international terrorism case.

The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly drove thousands of miles from Washington state before opening fire Wednesday afternoon on Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24.

Both soldiers underwent emergency surgery and remain in critical condition, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said. Lakanwal was also shot during the encounter and is hospitalized.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the Biden administration admitted Lakanwal to the United States in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, citing his prior work with U.S. government personnel, including CIA teams in Kandahar.

Ratcliffe said that relationship ended shortly after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Law enforcement officials said Lakanwal used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver in what Pirro described as an “ambush-style attack.” Charges include assault with intent to kill, though prosecutors said they may escalate the case depending on the soldiers’ conditions.

FBI Director Kash Patel said agents are treating the incident as an act of terrorism and have launched a “coast-to-coast investigation,” executing multiple search warrants tied to Lakanwal’s cross-country travel. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the shooting a “direct attack on America.”

The shooting unfolded near the Farragut West Metro station, blocks from the White House, where National Guard personnel have been deployed under President Donald Trump’s federal security order.

Video reviewed by investigators shows the suspect rounding a corner and immediately firing at the two service members, authorities said. Other troops nearby responded within seconds, subduing the gunman after he was wounded.

Lakanwal arrived in the U.S. after serving a decade in the Afghan Army, part of that time alongside U.S. Special Forces in Kandahar, according to a relative who expressed shock at the allegations. He settled in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children and had recently worked for Amazon, the relative said.

Operation Allies Welcome brought roughly 76,000 Afghans to the United States following the Taliban takeover. While supporters say those evacuees underwent rigorous vetting, critics, including Trump, have raised concerns about gaps in the process.

Hours after the president’s remarks Wednesday night calling the shooting “an act of terror,” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it was halting all immigration processing for Afghan nationals pending a review of security protocols.

Investigators say they have not identified a motive. The suspect acted alone, officials said, and there is no indication of additional threats. Social media footage captured first responders performing CPR on one soldier and treating the second on shattered glass scattered across the sidewalk.

Trump has ordered an additional 500 National Guard members to Washington, saying the attack “will only strengthen our resolve” to maintain security in the capital.

Edna Adan’s Gusi Peace Prize Sparks National Pride, International Visibility for Somaliland.

HARGEISA, Somalia—Dr. Edna Adan Ismail, the internationally respected humanitarian and former foreign minister of Somaliland, has been named one of the 16 recipients of the 2025 Gusi Peace Prize, a distinction widely regarded as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize.

The award ceremony, held this week in Manila, offered a rare moment of global visibility for Somaliland: Dr. Edna accepted the honor as the Somaliland flag appeared alongside those of recognized states, an image that resonated deeply across the country and throughout the diaspora.

For many Somalilanders, the symbolism carried weight beyond personal achievement.

The certificate, signed by the President of the Philippines, was viewed as an implicit acknowledgment of Somaliland’s long-standing claim to sovereign status, even as formal recognition remains elusive.

Dr. Edna’s global stature has been built over decades of work in maternal health, medical training, and the campaign against female genital mutilation. Her Edna Adan University Hospital in Hargeisa remains one of the most influential health institutions in the Horn of Africa.

The Gusi Prize adds to a long record of international recognition that includes a 2023 Templeton Prize nomination, a 2020 Women Deliver lifetime achievement award, France’s Legion of Honour in 2012, and multiple humanitarian commendations from global institutions.

In Somaliland, the reaction has been one of national celebration. Officials, civil society leaders and ordinary citizens praised her as both a humanitarian icon and an unofficial diplomat who has carried the country’s narrative to the world through her work.

One hospital spokesperson called the moment “a recognition not only of Dr. Edna’s service, but of Somaliland’s resilience and contribution to global peace.”

The Gusi Peace Prize honors individuals who advance peace, human rights and development in their communities. Dr. Edna’s selection underscores her role as one of the region’s most influential advocates for women’s health and education—work that has saved thousands of lives and shaped public policy across the Horn of Africa.

For Somaliland, the ceremony offered a rare but unmistakable moment of visibility: a national flag raised on a global platform, carried by a citizen whose work has long transcended borders.

For supporters of Somaliland’s recognition, it was a reminder that the nation’s strongest diplomacy often arrives not through formal channels, but through the global impact of its most accomplished citizens.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for a sweeping “re-examination” of all Afghan nationals who entered the United States under the Biden administration, hours after authorities confirmed that an Afghan man was the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.

Trump, speaking from Florida, described the attack as “an act of terror” and said the U.S. must reassess every individual brought to the country through Operation Allies Welcome — the emergency resettlement program launched in 2021 to assist Afghans fleeing Taliban rule.

His remarks came shortly before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced an immediate halt to the processing of all immigration requests involving Afghan nationals.

The agency said the suspension would remain in place pending a review of security and vetting protocols.

The shooting occurred around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday when a gunman opened fire on two National Guard members from West Virginia who were on patrol in downtown Washington. Both soldiers were critically wounded.

The suspect was also shot — it remains unclear by whom — and was hospitalized, authorities said.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the attack “appeared to target” the Guard members, though investigators have not publicly identified a motive. Multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, ATF, and the Department of Homeland Security, are involved in the investigation.

Federal officials identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, of Bellingham, Washington. According to four senior law enforcement officials briefed on the case, Lakanwal arrived in the United States in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome after serving for a decade in the Afghan National Army, including alongside U.S. Special Forces in Kandahar.

“We were the ones targeted by the Taliban in Afghanistan,” a relative who served with him told NBC News. “I cannot believe it that he might do this.”

A source familiar with the investigation said Lakanwal was granted asylum earlier this year.

The scale of Trump’s proposed review remains uncertain. A memo circulated last week inside the Trump administration called for a full reassessment of all refugees admitted during the Biden years — a move that could affect nearly 200,000 people.

The directive suggests a broad effort to revisit security screenings and immigration decisions made over the past four years.

For now, federal authorities say the immediate focus remains determining the suspect’s motive and assessing whether the shooting has any link to extremist ideology or foreign influence.

Kenya will appeal a regional court decision that suspended its trade agreement with the European Union, Trade Minister Lee Kinyanjui said Wednesday, warning the ruling threatens more than $1.5 billion in annual exports to Europe.

The East Africa Court of Justice, based in Arusha, Tanzania, issued an injunction on Monday halting implementation of the 2023 Economic Partnership Agreement between Nairobi and the EU.

The suspension followed a petition filed by the Centre for Law Economics and Policy, a regional nongovernmental organization, which argued the deal violates provisions of the East African Community’s common market treaty.

Kinyanjui said the government has begun the legal process to overturn the injunction, though he did not specify when the appeal will be heard.

He emphasized that the trade pact remains central to Kenya’s economy, guaranteeing access for Kenyan goods to the 27-nation bloc while gradually lowering barriers for European products entering Kenya.

“The Kenya-EU EPA is the lifeline of our booming exports and a source of livelihood to a large majority of Kenyans,” Kinyanjui said in a statement. “Kenya will continue to trade with the EU, and steps are being taken to ensure continuity and protection of our existing commercial arrangements.”

Kenya exported $1.56 billion in goods to the EU last year — mostly horticulture, tea, and coffee — while importing $2.09 billion worth of European products, according to ministry data.

The ruling comes as African economies scramble to secure market access following a wave of higher tariffs imposed by the United States this year. For Kenya, the EU remains one of its most dependable destinations for agricultural exports, and uncertainty over the trade pact raises concerns among producers and exporters already facing global price volatility.

Officials from the East African Community secretariat did not respond to requests for comment.

Moscow Pushes Pause: Kremlin Says U.S. Peace Plan Not Discussed, Needs Deep Review.

The Kremlin said Wednesday that the latest U.S. proposal for ending the war in Ukraine still requires close examination and has not yet been the subject of substantive talks with Washington.

The clarification came amid reports that American and Russian officials unexpectedly crossed paths during separate meetings in Abu Dhabi this week.

Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy aide to President Vladimir Putin, told state television that Moscow had only recently received the new U.S. draft framework and had not discussed it with U.S. representatives. “We saw it, it was passed on to us, but there haven’t been any discussions yet,” he said, adding that the plan demands “serious analysis” before Russia can issue any formal response.

Russian intelligence officials were in the United Arab Emirates to meet Ukrainian counterparts for what Ushakov described as talks on “very sensitive issues,” including potential prisoner exchanges.

While in Abu Dhabi, they also encountered U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, according to American officials. Ushakov called that meeting “unexpected,” and offered no details on what was discussed.

His comments appear intended to tamp down speculation that Moscow and Washington had quietly launched negotiations over the U.S.-drafted proposal, which U.S. and Ukrainian officials have said outlines a pathway to a ceasefire and broader settlement.

Ushakov signaled that the Kremlin sees both opportunities and challenges in the draft, saying “some aspects can be viewed positively,” while other elements will require “specialized discussion among experts.” He gave no indication of when Moscow might provide an official response.

The remarks highlight the delicate diplomatic choreography surrounding the latest peace initiative, as Washington pushes to secure a Ukrainian-Russian ceasefire while Moscow signals caution and insists it is not yet engaged in detailed talks.

A federal judge in Colorado sharply limited the circumstances under which immigration officers can arrest people without a warrant, ruling Tuesday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must show not only probable cause of unlawful presence but also evidence that a person is likely to flee before agents may detain them.

Senior U.S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson issued the order in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of Colorado and private attorneys on behalf of four Latino residents, including asylum-seekers, who were arrested this year without warrants during President Donald Trump’s expanded immigration enforcement.

The complaint alleges ICE agents conducted sweeping, indiscriminate arrests aimed at meeting enforcement targets rather than following statutory requirements.

Jackson said the plaintiffs — all with longstanding community ties — presented no facts that would justify a belief they posed a flight risk. “No reasonable officer could have concluded that these individuals were likely to flee,” he wrote, emphasizing that federal law requires both probable cause of unlawful presence and specific, articulable reasons why officers cannot wait for a warrant.

The ruling also mandates that immigration officers document the basis for any warrantless arrest.

The Department of Homeland Security criticized the decision. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called it an “activist ruling” and rejected the allegation that federal officers engage in racial profiling. “These claims are disgusting, reckless and categorically false,” she said, adding that DHS believes recent Supreme Court actions will support an appeal.

The Colorado order mirrors a similar decision earlier this year in California, where a federal judge restricted Border Patrol’s warrantless arrests.

The government is appealing that case after the Supreme Court lifted a separate restraining order in Los Angeles that barred agents from stopping people solely based on race, language, job or location.

McLaughlin signaled the Colorado ruling will likely face the same trajectory. “The Supreme Court recently vindicated us on this question elsewhere,” she said. “We look forward to further vindication in this case as well.”

The decision marks one of the clearest judicial rebukes to date of the administration’s accelerated enforcement strategy and raises questions about how ICE will conduct operations in states where community ties are strong and warrants are required absent a documented risk of flight.

The United Arab Emirates signaled support on Tuesday for renewed American efforts to halt Sudan’s devastating war, as President Donald Trump announced he had begun working on a potential diplomatic breakthrough at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said Abu Dhabi welcomed Washington’s push to end the conflict and condemned the “atrocities” committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The UAE has been under growing scrutiny for its alleged ties to the RSF, accusations it denies.

Trump said he launched the initiative shortly after meeting the Saudi crown prince at the White House on Tuesday. Speaking at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, he described the situation in Sudan as far more complex than he previously understood.

“[MBS] explained the whole culture and the whole history,” Trump said. “We’ve already started working on that.” He said the crown prince told him resolving the Sudan conflict “would be the greatest thing you can do.”

Trump said he began working on the Sudan file “around 30 minutes” after the Oval Office meeting.

On Wednesday night, Trump expanded on the announcement in a Truth Social post, saying the United States would coordinate with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and other regional governments to end the violence and stabilize the country.

“Tremendous atrocities are taking place in Sudan,” he wrote, calling it “the most violent place on Earth and the single biggest humanitarian crisis.”

Sudan’s war, which erupted in April 2023 between the army and the RSF, has killed tens of thousands of civilians, displaced millions and produced famine-level conditions in several regions. Human rights groups have cited widespread massacres, ethnic cleansing and the destruction of entire towns. Both warring factions have been sanctioned by the United States.

The UAE’s public endorsement of U.S. efforts marks a notable shift in regional positioning, as the conflict increasingly draws in foreign powers with competing agendas.

A coordinated push by the U.S., Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt — all with leverage over different actors inside Sudan — could represent the most serious attempt yet to pressure both sides into a ceasefire.

The Trump administration plans to conduct a sweeping review of every refugee admitted to the United States during President Biden’s term, a move that immigrant advocates warn could sow fear across communities and destabilize one of the country’s oldest humanitarian programs.

According to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will re-interview nearly 200,000 refugees who entered the country between January 20, 2021, and February 20, 2025 — and will immediately halt green card approvals for all individuals in that group.

The directive, signed by USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, argues that Biden-era officials prioritized “expediency” over “detailed screening and vetting,” requiring a full reassessment of their eligibility.

If the agency determines someone should not have qualified for refugee status, the individual “has no right to appeal,” the memo says, unless they are placed in deportation proceedings and argue their case before an immigration judge.

Refugee advocates sharply criticized the move, describing it as punitive, unnecessary, and legally questionable. They note that refugees already undergo some of the most rigorous security screenings of any category of immigrants, often waiting years for approval.

“This plan is shockingly ill-conceived,” said Naomi Steinberg of HIAS, a major resettlement agency. “People who have already rebuilt their lives here are now being retraumatized by political decisions that devalue their humanity.”

The Biden administration admitted more than 185,000 refugees from 2021 to 2024 — the largest number in decades — with arrivals primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Syria. Under existing law, refugees must apply for permanent residency after one year in the United States and may seek citizenship after five.

The memo says that even refugees who already hold green cards may have their cases revisited. A priority list for re-interviews is expected within 90 days.

Advocacy groups warned that many families will now face renewed uncertainty and fear, particularly those who fled war, persecution or humanitarian crises.

“Besides the enormous cruelty of this undertaking, it is a tremendous waste of government resources,” said Sharif Aly, head of the International Refugee Assistance Project. “These are people who were thoroughly vetted and have been living peacefully in our communities for years.”

The review comes as the Trump administration dramatically reduces refugee admissions, suspends the broader refugee program, and sets a historic low ceiling of 7,500 admissions — largely limited to white South African applicants.

It also arrives amid a broader campaign to accelerate deportations and expand immigration enforcement nationwide.

USCIS, DHS, and the White House did not comment on the memo or clarify how the agency intends to manage the massive review.

For now, legal experts stress that no refugee has lost status and that federal law — not presidential directives — governs program changes. But the mere announcement, they say, has already sparked anxiety for thousands who believed their long and painful journey to safety was finally behind them.