The Pentagon on Friday announced that ten civilians, including seven children, and no terrorists were killed in Kabul by a drone strike that the Pentagon had hailed initially as “righteous”.

Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, chief of US Central Command said, “Our investigat now concludes the strike was a tragic mistake.”

The strike was held on August 29 near the Kabul airport during the final, chaotic days of the US evacuation of civilians and military retreat from Afghanistan.

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According to the military, the strike prevented “multiple suicide bombers” from attacking Hamid Karzai International Airport.

In a statement, the US Central Command said the attack had targeted “an imminent ISIS-K threat” and that explosives were being loaded into the vehicle when the Hellfire missile struck it.

Later, reports surfaced that several members of a family had been killed in the attack. However, the Pentagon also acknowledged the possibility of civilian casualties. 

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However, Army Gen. Mark Milley told reporters that intelligence showed ISIS-K was preparing a vehicle for a suicide attack, criteria for launching an attack were met and that an explosion after the attack had led to the “reasonable conclusion” that explosives were in the vehicle.

Milley stated “that at least one of those people that were killed was an ISIS facilitator.” Initial indications showed the proper procedures were followed, he said, and it was a “righteous strike.”

However, many news media, including The New York Times posted stories that called into question the Pentagon’s account. It also mentioned that the driver of the vehicle may have been an aid worker.

The Associated Press identified the man as Zemerai Ahmadi, who was killed along with seven children and two adults after the Hellfire missile incinerated his car. 

At the time, the Pentagon was on high alert, fearing a repeat of the horrific attack by an ISIS-K suicide bomber that killed dozens of people, including 13 US service members on August 26.