CIA warned of children around target seconds before US drone strike in Kabul

The CIA had warned against the presence of children around the target ahead of the US drone strike on a suspected terror target in Kabul.

New Delhi

September 19, 2021

UPDATED: September 19, 2021 12:01 IST

The missile hit the vehicle and killed 10 civilians including children. The US military has also apoligised for the stike and called it a tragic mistake in which 10 innocent lives were lost.

Just before the US military launched a Hellfire missile to stop a Toyota Corolla - believing it to be a terror threat, the CIA had warned of the presence of civilians, including children around the target. But, it was too late.

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The missile hit the vehicle and killed 10 civilians including children. The US military has also apologised for the strike and called it a 'tragic mistake' in which 10 innocent lives were lost.

Read: US had wrong information: Afghan man who lost 10 family members in drone strike

In light of the findings of a probe into the August 29 strike, General Frank McKenzie, the commander of the US Central Command, also said it was “unlikely that the vehicle and those who died in the drone strike were associated with ISIS-K or were a direct threat to US forces".

For days after the strike, Pentagon officials had asserted that it had been conducted correctly, even as reports of civilian casualties emerged.

Now, Gen McKenzie has apologised for the error and said the United States is considering making reparation payments to the family of the victims.

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"It was a mistake, and I offer my sincere apology. As the combatant commander, I am fully responsible for this strike and this tragic outcome," he told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

Prior to the strike, US intelligence had indicated a likelihood that a white Toyota Corolla would be used in an attack against US forces, Gen McKenzie said. On the morning of Aug. 29, such a vehicle was detected at a compound in Kabul that US intelligence in the preceding 48 hours had determined was used by the Islamic State group to plan and facilitate attacks. The vehicle was tracked by US drone aircraft from that compound to numerous other locations in the city before the decision was made to attack it at a point just a couple of miles from Kabul airport, Gen McKenzie said.

“Clearly our intelligence was wrong on this particular white Toyota Corolla,” he said.

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