Pentagon spokesman John Kirby spoke at a media briefing in the Pentagon on Monday, September 20, 2021 in Washington. (AP photo / Alexander Brandon)
Washington (AP) — Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the Pentagon had first killed 10 Afghan civilians, including seven children, in a U.S. drone strike in Kabul on August 29. Ordered a high-level review of the investigation that was killed. Islamic State fighter. Reviewers need to consider whether military disciplinary action is justified.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that Austin would give the Air Force a three- or four-star rank to review a Central Command investigation that scrutinized the timeline of tragic events. He said he had told him to appoint an officer. The main findings were that only Afghan civilians were killed, and the U.S. military misunderstood the belief that the white Toyota Corolla had been chased for hours and attacked with Hellfire missiles.
The contradiction between the military’s first allegations of strikes and on-site discoveries soon became apparent. The Associated Press and other media outlets reported that the driver of the targeted vehicle was a longtime employee of a US humanitarian organization. Despite the Pentagon’s claim that the vehicle contained explosives, there were no signs of a major secondary explosion.
General Frank Mackenzie, head of the Central Army, found on Friday that the vehicle targeted by the drone was first discovered in a known Islamic State compound in Kabul and was tracked by U.S. intelligence for eight hours, his investigation determined. Announced that it was done. Mackenzie said the information about the vehicle turned out to be tragically wrong.
The military initially claimed that at least one Islamic State fighter was killed in a vehicle, but Mackenzie’s investigation found that only innocent civilians were killed. Mackenzie blamed the mistake and apologized.
“This particular strike was certainly a terrible mistake, and we certainly regret it, and it’s very clear that I take full responsibility for it,” he said. Told at a press conference.
In a written statement on Friday, Austin hinted at a request for review, stating that Central Command would like to consider “all available context and information” regarding false attacks and take accountability into account. rice field.
The decision calling for a review reflects the seriousness of the mistakes made in the last hours of U.S. military withdrawal from Kabul, including the hasty evacuation of more than 120,000 Afghans, Americans and others. .. The evacuation was carried out under the threat of an attack by an Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State group that carried out a deadly suicide bombing outside the airport three days before the false drone attack.
Kirby said the Air Force review would study the thorough investigation of Central Command and recommend whether stakeholders should be held accountable.
“If you have to be accountable, the decision about who does what will be another consideration,” Kirby said.
The review will be completed within 45 days of the appointment of the reviewers, Kirby said.
Defense Secretary Orders New Review of False US Drone Strike | WGN Radio 720
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