US Central Command Admits , Kabul Drone Strike That Killed 7 Children, Was a ‘Mistake’.
On September 17, U.S. Central Command
Gen. Frank McKenzie admitted that the Aug. 29
drone strike near the Kabul airport was, "a mistake.".
On September 17, U.S. Central Command
Gen. Frank McKenzie admitted that the Aug. 29
drone strike near the Kabul airport was, "a mistake.".
ABC News reports that ten people were killed in the strike, which the U.S. believed was targeting a terrorist.
Instead, the strike killed an aid worker and , at least seven children. .
Instead, the strike killed an aid worker and , at least seven children. .
I am now convinced that as many as
10 civilians, including up to seven
children were tragically killed in that
strike. Moreover, we now assess that
it is unlikely that the vehicle and those
who died or associated with ISIS-
Khorasan or were a direct
threat to U.S. forces, Gen. Frank McKenzie, U.S. Central Command, via ABC News.
According to the general, the drone strike was carried out , "in the earnest belief that it would prevent and terminate a threat to our forces and the evacuees at the airport, but it was a mistake. And I offer my sincere apology.".
McKenzie said that a secondary explosion,
reported on since the airstrike as possible
evidence the car was carrying explosives,
was actually caused by a nearby propane tank.
The Associated Press reports that Zemerai Ahmadi, the main target who was killed in the strike had worked for
15 years at Nutrition & Education International,
a California-based nonprofit.
Ahmadi's white Toyota Corolla was struck with a Hellfire missile as he pulled his car into the driveway of his home in Kabul.