A suspected Afghan terrorist who killed National Guard troops Sarah Beckstrom and wounded Andrew Wolfe near the White House once fought for a CIA-backed paramilitary “Zero Unit,” sources confirm.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, now 29, once stood at the forefront of Afghanistan’s elite special forces. Trained, funded, and equipped by the CIA, Lakanwal and his squad spent nearly a decade fighting the Taliban alongside U.S. military forces.
Following the turbulent U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Lakanwal fled his home country. He eventually resettled in Bellingham, Washington, where he is now living as a father of five. His journey with the Zero Unit began when he was just 16, climbing the ranks to become a team leader and GPS specialist before leaving Afghanistan.
A childhood friend, in discussions with the New York Times, conveyed the deep mental scars left by his experiences. “When he saw blood, bodies, and the wounded, he could not tolerate it,” the friend revealed. The intense operations exerted immense pressure on Lakanwal, contributing to issues with substance abuse and a hasty marriage.
In a separate but tragic development, former President Donald Trump announced the death of Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, aged 20. “I must unfortunately tell you that just seconds before I went on, I heard that Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia… she was savagely attacked. She’s dead… Incredible person. Outstanding in every single way in every department. That’s horrible,” Trump said.
Beckstrom, who joined the West Virginia National Guard’s 863rd Military Police Company in June 2023, had been stationed in Washington D.C. as part of increased security measures since August. She was ambushed near Farragut Square, alongside 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe of the 167th Airlift Wing.
This brutal attack has sparked a debate over the vetting processes for former CIA allies resettled in the U.S. Zero Units, which were tied to Afghan intelligence but operated with CIA support, executing high-risk missions, as reported by Rolling Stone. The Wall Street Journal also verified Lakanwal’s association with the CIA during his time in Afghanistan.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 27, 2025
Beckstrom, who enlisted in June 2023 with the West Virginia National Guard’s 863rd Military Police Company, and 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe of the 167th Airlift Wing had patrolled D.C. since August as part of heightened security deployments.
The ambush-style attack near Farragut Square has raised questions about vetting CIA allies resettled in the U.S. Zero Units, tied to Afghan intelligence but reliant on CIA support, conducted high-stakes raids, per Rolling Stone reports cited in coverage. The Wall Street Journal confirmed Lakanwal’s CIA-linked work in Afghanistan.
Journalist Lara Logan warned against broad blame in a tweet: “They want you to hate all Afghans. They want you to blame refugees. Whatever you do, don’t look past that to those orchestrating this.”
National Guard presence in D.C. had become routine amid urban security efforts, making the victims fixtures in the capital before the sudden violence. Lakanwal faces upgraded charges including first-degree murder. The case spotlights lingering fallout from U.S. foreign policy, mental health crises among proxies, and risks to Americans at home.
