US Military Admits Kabul Drone Strike Killed Civilians

Storyful
3 年前

US officials acknowledged on September 17 that a drone strike in Kabul during the last days of the American-led evacuation there killed as many as 10 civilians, countering earlier accounts offered by the Pentagon.

Following the attack, the American military maintained that the August 29 strike had disrupted a “facilitator” associated with the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-K. Speaking two days after the August 29 attack, Gen Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called the strike “righteous.”

On Friday, CENTCOM commander Gen Kenneth F McKenzie Jr told reporters that after an investigation, those initial assessments were found to be incorrect.

“I am now convinced that as many as 10 civilians, including up to seven children, were tragically killed in that strike,” said McKenzie. “Moreover, we now assess that it is unlikely that the vehicle and those who died were associated with ISIS-K or were a direct threat to US forces. I offer my profound condolences to the family and friends of those who were killed.” Credit: US Department of Defense via Storyful