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U.S. Pentagon says not to punish troops over drone strike in Kabul killing 10 civilians
December 14, 2021
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- No military personnel involved in a drone strike that killed 10 civilians, including seven children, in Kabul of Afghanistan in August will face punishment, the Pentagon said Monday.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved recommendations from U.S. Central Command head Gen. Kenneth McKenzie and U.S. Special Operations Command leader Gen. Richard Clarke to not take any administrative action against those involved in the Aug. 29 strike, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters.
The Defense Department admitted in September that the drone strike - which came in the final days of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan - was a "tragic mistake" that killed the civilians, including seven children.
Pentagon officials had earlier said the strike was necessary to prevent "an imminent ISIS-K threat" to U.S. forces evacuating people at Kabul's airport.
