'Our intelligence was wrong': US military terms Kabul drone strike as 'Tragic Mistake', apologises for blunder

Pentagon, September 18: Admitting that their drone strike in Kabul was the 'Tragic Mistake', the United States apologised for the blunder, saying that their intelligence was wrong and all 10 persons killed in the drone strike were civilians, including seven children.

 

The attack came during the final days of the US' chaotic pullout from Afghanistan. The US strike had come days after a suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport claimed the lives of at least 175 people, including 13 US service members.

 

In a press briefing, Commander of US Central Command General Kenneth McKenzie said that their investigation now concludes that the strike was a 'tragic mistake'.

 

He said he now believes it was unlikely that those who died were Islamic State militants or posed a direct threat to US forces at Kabul’s airport. "Having thoroughly reviewed the findings of the investigation and the supporting analysis by inner agency partners, I am now convinced that as many as 10 civilians including up to seven children were tragically killed in that strike," the US Central Command Commander said.

 

 

He then apologised for the error and said the United States is considering making reparation payments to the family of the victims. "It was a mistake, and I offer my sincere apology. He said, “I offer my profound condolences to the family and friends of those who were killed. This strike was taken in the earnest belief that it would prevent an imminent threat to our forces and the evacuees at the airport. But it was a mistake and I offer my sincere apology.”

 

 

 

McKenzie said it was “not a rushed strike” and efforts had been made to minimise civilian casualties but acknowledged that “a Tragic Mistake” had been made. As the combatant commander, I am fully responsible for this strike and this tragic outcome," he told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

 

"We selected this car based on its movement at a known target area of interest to us. Clearly, our intelligence was wrong on this particular white Toyota," he said. "While the team conducted the strike did so in the honest belief that they were preventing an imminent attack on our forces and civilian evacuees, we now understand that to be incorrect," he said.

 

 

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologized to the relatives of those killed in a statement. "I offer my deepest condolences to surviving family members of those who were killed. 

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