A U.S. Marine has successfully obtained legal custody of an Afghan baby girl who survived an American airstrike in Afghanistan, following an adoption process that was finalized in 2020. The girl was discovered in 2019 after both her parents were killed during a military operation targeting al-Qaeda terrorists. After her rescue, she was brought to the United States for medical care, and the Marine applied for custody, ultimately adopting her amid the complexities surrounding international law and family rights.

In a significant development two years later, an Afghan couple sought to overturn the adoption, asserting that the man was related to the child's biological mother. They cited Afghan law as a basis for their claim to the child, hoping to demonstrate their familial connection and gain custody rights. However, a U.S. court concluded that the couple had failed to prove their claims, particularly as they refused to participate in a DNA test that could verify their relationship to the child.

This ruling highlights the complexities of international adoptions and custody battles, especially in contexts involving war-torn regions and the aftermath of military interventions. The court's decision allows the girl to remain in the U.S. with her adoptive parents, ensuring her continued safety and stability, but it also raises questions about the implications for custody cases involving international and cultural legal frameworks.