US offers to pay relatives of 10 civilians killed in Afghan drone strike
Source: The Guardian and agencies
US offers to pay relatives of 10 civilians killed in Afghan drone strike
Pentagon says it is also working to relocate any of those relatives to the US, almost two months after Kabul strike
Staff and agencies
Sat 16 Oct 2021 04.44 BST
The Pentagon has offered unspecified condolence payments to the family of 10 civilians who were killed in a botched US drone attack in Afghanistan in August during the final days before American troops withdrew from the country.
The US defence department said it made a commitment that included offering “ex-gratia condolence payments”, in addition to working with the US state department in support of the family members who were interested in relocation to the United States.
Colin Kahl, the US under secretary of defence for policy, held a virtual meeting on Thursday with Steven Kwon, the founder and president of Nutrition & Education International, the aid organisation that employed Zemari Ahmadi, who was killed in the 29 August drone attack, the Pentagon press secretary, John Kirby, said.
Ahmadi and the others who were killed in the strike were innocent victims who bore no blame and were not affiliated with Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) or posed a threat to US forces, Kirby said.
The drone strike in Kabul killed as many as 10 civilians, including seven children.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/16/us-offers-to-pay-relatives-of-10-civilians-killed-in-afghan-drone-strike