U.S. Military Officials Defend Airstrike That Killed Afghan Family
John Hayward 3 Sep 2021
Kabul resident Ramal Ahmadi on Friday demanded explanations from the Biden administration for the August 29 drone strike that reportedly killed ten members of his family, six of them children.
Senior U.S. military officials insist the strike targeted a vehicle packed with explosives and at least one Islamic State operative was present at the scene.
The Sunday strike occurred three days after the Islamic State in Afghanistan, frequently referred to as ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport that killed over 200 people, including 13 American servicemembers.
The Associated Press (AP) quoted Pentagon officials, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, who insisted the drone strike appropriately targeted an ISIS “facilitator” who appeared to be preparing another “imminent” attack on the Kabul airport.
The Pentagon suggested the massive explosion that killed the Ahmadi family was a “secondary” blast that proved the car was filled with bombs. Anonymous “U.S. officials” told the AP they watched the drone video feed as the strike was in progress and saw explosives being loaded into the car.
“This strike prevented a high-profile attack against both coalition and U.S. forces, as well as Afghan civilians. The decision was made to strike and thwart that attack,” Maj. Gen. William “Hank” Taylor said from Washington on Monday.
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https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2021/09/03/u-s-military-officials-defend-airstrike-that-killed-afghan-family/
