New Evidence Raises Doubts About US Reason for Drone Strike in Kabul Last Month - Reports

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - A New York Times investigation discovered video evidence that raises doubts about the United States' explanation for conducting a drone strike against an alleged Islamic State-Khorasan (banned in Russia) target in Kabul last month that happened to kill an Afghan who worked for a US aid group and seven children.

The video on Friday showed evidence that Zemari Ahmadi worked as an electrical engineer for the US non-governmental organization (NGO) Nutrition and Education International. He is shown delivering food in one of the company's white Toyota Corolla's to Afghans displaced by the war.

The New York Times investigation found that on August 29, Ahmadi left his home in the morning to pick up a colleague and his boss's laptop, which is when the US military suspected a white sedan had left an Islamic State safe house and intercepted communications asking the driver to make several stops.

What the US military saw as suspicious was Ahmadi's daily activities, the report said citing his colleagues.

The US military may have mistakenly thought Ahmadi's white Toyota Corolla contained explosives that would be used against American troops at the Kabul international airport after he was seen running work-related errands and loading water containers for his home, the report said.

Ahmadi brought water containers to his home from the NGO office because there was a water shortage in his neighborhood, the report said.

Although the US military claims only three civilians were killed in the attack, the investigation found that ten members of Ahmadi's family, including seven children (two of them — as young as 2), were killed in the strike. The report said, citing a relative, that the children had a habit of encircling Ahmadi's car when he would arrive home.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley said procedures were correctly followed and called it a "righteous strike." At the same time, the military did not comment on reports of a large number of civilian casualties, citing the need to complete the internal assessment.

The Taliban* has condemned the US airstrikes in Kabul, emphasizing that arbitrary attacks in other countries are illegal. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told media that if there was any potential threat, it should have been reported to the movement.

The White House did admit there was clearly a breakdown in the security process that failed to prevent the August 26 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport, which reportedly left 170 dead, including 13 US troops. The attack, claimed by Daesh, came amid the chaotic US evacuation from Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul on August 15.

* Terrorist organizations banned in Russia and many other states