Android Studio – Native React – VS Studio Code – npm run android – Execution failed for task ':app:checkDebugAarMetadata'

I have been getting this error when trying to run npm android build on my native react project. I have gone through the entire android setup along with updating Environment variables. The emulator works but the install fails with the following message:

     What went wrong:                                                                                                                                    
Execution failed for task ':app:checkDebugAarMetadata'.                                                                                               
> Could not resolve all files for configuration ':app:debugRuntimeClasspath'.
   > Failed to transform react-android-0.72.6-debug.aar (com.facebook.react:react-android:0.72.6) to match attributes {artifactType=android-aar-metadata, com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr=debug, org.gradle.category=library, org.gradle.dependency.bundling=external, org.gradle.libraryelements=aar, org.gradle.status=release, org.gradle.usage=java-runtime}.
      > Execution failed for JetifyTransform: C:UsersBenTo.gradlecachesmodules-2files-2.1com.facebook.reactreact-android.72.62e2db118c9084b05c1a5d6079148bc983668f372react-android-0.72.6-debug.aar.

build.gradle as follows:

buildscript {
ext {
    buildToolsVersion = "33.0.0"
    minSdkVersion = 21
    compileSdkVersion = 33
    targetSdkVersion = 33

    // We use NDK 23 which has both M1 support and is the side-by-side NDK version from AGP.
    ndkVersion = "23.1.7779620"
}
repositories {
    google()
    mavenCentral()
}
dependencies {
    classpath("com.android.tools.build:gradle")
    classpath('com.facebook.react:react-native-gradle-plugin')
}

}

I have also run react doctor, it shows the following:

    Android
 ✓ Adb - Required to verify if the android device is attached correctly
 ✓ JDK - Required to compile Java code
 ✓ Android Studio - Required for building and installing your app on Android
 ✖ Android SDK - Required for building and installing your app on Android
   - Versions found: N/A
   - Version supported: 33.0.0
 ✓ ANDROID_HOME - Environment variable that points to your Android SDK installation

Errors:   1
Warnings: 0

Usage
 › Press f to try to fix issues.
 › Press e to try to fix errors.
 › Press w to try to fix warnings.
 › Press Enter to exit.

When I press e to resolve, it shows the issues was fixed and to restart. When I restart I get the same error.

Please help.