by Bernard P. Lawson, The Chicago Times
September 17, 2021
WASHINGTON — General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of US Central Command, stated on Friday that it is unlikely any ISIS-K members were killed in a Kabul drone strike on August 29, which resulted in multiple civilian casualties.
“We now assess that it is unlikely that the vehicle and those who died were associated with ISIS-K or a direct threat to US forces . . . This strike was taken in the earnest belief that it would prevent an imminent threat to our forces and the evacuees at the airport,” McKenzie said.
Although McKenzie took full responsibility for the strike it was approved and later touted as a successful strike by President Biden and members of his administration.
The drone strike, which was meant to target ISIS-K operatives, killed an aid worker as well as up to nine of his family members, including seven children. The strike was thought to be on a vehicle containing bombs and operated by ISIS-K militants and was ordered after a suicide bombing at Kabul airport in Afghanistan that killed 13 US service members and many civilians on August 26, 2021.
The Chicago Times 